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David Edward Michel, 81, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, took his final flight home to be with the Lord on June 11, 2004. He was born November 12, 1922, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and grew up in Milwaukee during the Depression. He was salutatorian of his high school class. He lettered in soccer, tennis, basketball and golf. He joined the Army Air Corp and flew 52 bombing missions as a navigator on a B-24 during World War II. He was recalled to active duty in the U.S. Air Force in 1951 and stayed in as a career officer, flying an additional 50 combat missions over Korea and Vietnam. During his well-documented 30-year career as a navigator, he logged more than 7,000 hours in a B-52. Lt. Col. Michel retired from the Air Force in 1972 and moved with his family to Rio Rancho, N.M. After becoming bored with golfing every day for an entire summer, Dave returned to college and earned an MBA from the University of New Mexico. He served Rio Rancho for over 20 years in his private business as a Certified Public Accountant, retiring in 2003. During his 32-years as a Rio Rancho resident, he remained an avid sports fan, following his favorite teams, the Green Bay Packers and the New Mexico Lobos, as an armchair quarterback. He was active in local chapters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks Club, Kiwanis and Moose Lodge, as well as many other civic organizations. Dave is survived by his wife of 52 years, the former Bernice Domres; their four children, Ronald, Patrick, Sharon and David Jr.; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two brothers and three sisters who reside in the Milwaukee area. A memorial service with military honors was performed at Vista Verde Mortuary, 4310 Sara Rd. in Rio Rancho. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations in his name be made to the American Stroke Association, online at www.strokeassociation.org.
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