Donald Michael

Please join in celebrating the life of Logansport native, Donald F. Michael, 76, who, after a long battle against cancer, passed on to be with the Lord on Thursday, February 9, 2006, in his home surrounded in love by his family. Services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, February 13, at the Gundrum Funeral Home in Logansport.

Born February 21, 1929, at his home located on Culbertson St in Logansport, he was the son of Andrew and Marie Long Michael. He was married to Joan Cappa on December 20, 1952, in Colma, California.

Don graduated from Logansport High School in 1947, where he played on the baseball team. He attended Indianapolis Barber School from 1948 – 1949 and was employed locally as a barber from 1949 – 1950, and after military service, owned and operated a barber shop on Wilkinson St. from 1954 to 1971.

A veteran of the Korean War, he enlisted in the US Navy on September 25, 1950. He attended boot camp at Great Lakes, Ill., and served at the US Naval Air Station Agana, Guam, and on the USS Pasig and the USS Tuzon, stationed in Korea and Japan. Discharged at Long Beach, CA on July 27, 1954, he attained the rank of 2nd Class Petty Officer.

Don was a life member of the American Legion Post 60 where he served twice as post commander in 1991 and 1994. He also was a member of the VFW Post 3790, the Masonic Order, Tipton Lodge 33, Logansport, the Scottish Rite, Indianapolis, the Mizpah Temple of Ft. Wayne, and the Wheatland Avenue Methodist Church.

Don volunteered his time and talents to many fundraising events, including those for the Shriner’s Children’s Healthcare Mission, the American Legion’s Children’s Christmas Giving, and the purchase of a seeing eye dog. He also was in charge of operating fund development for the American Legion Post 60, and made possible the solvency of that organization.

Many local residents will remember him as a leader and coach for the Logansport Little League. For 13 years he coached the National Bank Senators and was involved in the leadership of the local Little League organization.

Don served as City Controller of Logansport from 1968 to 1972. He was Cass County Democratic Party Chairman from 1972 to 1980. In May of 1978, he was elected as Indiana Democratic Party State Chairman and worked tirelessly for the state and national Democratic Party through July 1982. In 1979, he was appointed to the Democratic National Committee where he served on the Executive Committee for the Democratic National Committee, representing the Midwest Region.

Don was a member of the site selection committee for the1980 Democratic National Convention and led the Indiana Delegation to the National Convention. He also attended the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco.

He worked on the staff of US Senator Birch Bayh and in 1984 was the campaign director for the successful gubernatorial primary election of State Senator Wayne Townsend.

Don served as campaign manager for three successful mayoral elections of former Logansport Mayor Gene Monahan and most recently was influential in the election of Mayor Michael Fincher. He also managed two successful campaigns for City Clerk Treasurer Mary Lynn Barnard. He directed other elections for State Senator Larry Maklin of Adams County, and State Senator Wayne Townsend of Blackford County. He also worked on the unsuccessful 1976 gubernatorial campaign of Larry Conrad.

Senator Robert Kennedy visited Logansport in 1968 because Don had made the necessary contacts and was in charge of all arrangements for the visit of a national dignitary. As State Chairman of the Democratic Party, he arranged for President Jimmy Carter to be the keynote speaker at the state party’s Jefferson Jackson Day dinner.

From 1984-1998 Don and his business partner, Stan Nice, operated their own business, Michael, Nice & Associates, where they worked on association management and government relations from their office in Indianapolis.

Don retired in September 1998 and in December of that year was declared a “Sagamore of the Wabash” by Governor Frank O’Bannon.

Through his exciting career, he was able to meet and become close friends with several state and national leaders.

Don’s family always remained as his source of refuge and great joy. He was devoted to his family, and instilled the importance of family into his children. He enjoyed the many family gatherings and time spent with his wife, brothers, sisters, children, and grandchildren. Don and his sons, grandsons, and close friends enjoyed many fly-in fishing trips in Canada, which became a source of many fond memories.

Don and his wife, Joan, traveled extensively throughout the United States and were often accompanied by their dear cousin, Genevieve Brown and their ‘Cajun Cousins’, Leonard and Alice Bourne. Don also loved to cook and eat morel mushrooms and he and his close friend, Dick Sands, made many trips to Wisconsin to bring back coolers full of morels.

Don enjoyed cooking, gardening, landscaping, fishing, remodeling, and remained a steady resource for guidance and encouragement to his children.

His leadership qualities immerged early on when he and his childhood friends, Link Rivers, and Carl Simon established the “Pearl Harbor Club.” Later in life he enjoyed the commodore and friendship of many of his fellow American Legion and Logansport Shrine Club members

He will be sadly missed by his family and friends. His infectious smile, kind heart, and quick wit will always be with us. He is at peace now with the Lord.

Along with his wife, Joan, he is survived by three children: Donald Michael and his wife, Jan (Coldwater, MI), Brian Michael and his wife, Marilyn (Noblesville, IN), and Lita Rouser, and her husband Rick (Logansport, IN); six grandchildren Drew Michael and Brian Michael (Boulder, CO), Erika Young and Audrey Michael (Logansport), Marie Michael and Rachel Michael (Noblesville, IN). Also surviving is his beloved sister, Betty Hunter; nephews Tom Michael and his wife Cathy (AZ), Jerry Michael and his wife Bobbi (CA), Randy Michael (Logansport), Jim Michael (Logansport), Ed Cappa (CA), and Michael Hunter and his wife Chris (NC); sister-in-law, Lucille Michael (Logansport), nieces Barb Hobday and her husband Jack (MN), Becky Pearson and her husband Gary, (Kokomo), Carol Shively, (Logansport), Judy Flory, (Logansport), and Alice Meeks and her husband Ray, (Logansport); beloved cousin, Genevieve Brown (CA); and several cousins and great nieces and nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Marie Long Michael, his brothers, Harry and Andrew Michael, his sister Helen White, his nephews William Michael and Warren Shively, his brother in-laws Charles Hunter and Harvey White, and his sister in-laws Mildred Lumbert and Florence Rivers.

Pastor Scott Ellison will officiate at the service and David Kitchell will deliver the eulogy. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery with full military graveside rites.

Friends may call from 1 to 6 P.M. on Sunday, February 12, and one hour before the service on Monday, at the funeral home.

A Masonic service will be held at 6 P.M. on Sunday, followed by a Shriner’s Processional, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Donald F. Michael Memorial Scholarship through Security Federal Savings Bank.

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