Edward John Michelic
Jan. 5, 1926 - April 24, 2024
On April 24, 2024, Edward John Michelic passed away peacefully at the age of 98.
He was born on January 5, 1926, to Stephen Michelic and Helen (Jariabka) Michelic.
“Ed” grew up in the city of Chicago, and as a youth, helped his parents manage their neighborhood grocery store, making deliveries on his bicycle. Young Ed was curious, and adept at all things tinkering and mechanical. When Uncle Sam called in 1944, Ed enlisted in the U.S. Army, providing technology support for the Army’s West Coast air defense communications in the last stages of WWII. Ed’s expertise with radio technology proved valuable, and he rose to the rank of Technical Sergeant.
After his honorable discharge, Ed returned to Chicago and earned an engineering degree from Illinois Tech. During one of his frequent visits to a local Chicago Public Library branch, Alice Elmquist interrupted her task of reshelving books to help Ed find an elusive volume. Alice quickly became the love of Ed’s life, and they were married in 1951. Soon after, Ed and Alice moved to the Milwaukee area, where Ed was employed as an electrical engineer by General Electric Medical Systems. Ed was instrumental in the development and quality control of some of the world’s first X-ray equipment designed for medical use. After a distinguished career, Ed took early retirement from GE and went on to work for Allen Bradley (Rockwell) in Milwaukee for several more years until his retirement in 1995.
Though not himself a performing musician, Ed loved playing the harmonica and fostered in his children a love of music. Ed was a creative woodworker, and he designed and built furniture, storage units, and cabinetry for his homes in West Allis and New Berlin, WI. One year he built a massive car-top carrier that fit perfectly on the top of the family station wagon!
Ed and Alice raised five children, and enthusiastically supported their many and various activities. Devoted to his family, Ed took great delight in the escapades and accomplishments of his children, grandkids and great-grandkids. Ed was a man of deep faith, and often led Bible studies at his local church and for family members. Arranged by son Timothy, Ed was thrilled to participate in one of the Honor Flights from Milwaukee to Washington, D.C. Together, Ed and Alice loved reading, family visits, and sitting on the porch while watching nature on display at their New Berlin home. Neighbors Mike and Sharon Hagen were constant friends, watching over Ed and Alice in their final years together.
Ed was preceded in death by his son, James Paul Michelic, and his beloved wife of 71 years, Alice Elmquist Michelic.
He is survived by his son Matthew (Leslie) of Appleton, WI, daughter Marcia Gill of Carlsbad, CA, son Timothy (Debra) Michelic of Oconomowoc, WI, and son Mark of Brookfield, WI. Ed’s beloved grandchildren are Jennifer (Sean) Borgerding, Justin Michelic, Amy (Matthew) Neumann, Rossen Gill, Joanna Lawrence, Rebecca (Anthony) Menning, Adam Michelic and Christopher Michelic. Ed’s legacy includes a growing number of great-grandchildren, and many knew and loved their Grandpa Ed. The family is planning a private memorial service.
Ed’s family is so grateful to the skilled and compassionate caregivers who attended to Ed in his final months following surgeries: these include staff at The Lutheran Home (Wauwatosa, WI), Brighton Hospice (Waukesha, WI) and the Heritage Court Memory Care (Pewaukee, WI).