Micheal LaVerne Shilts, 75, graduated to heaven on December 26, 2023 after residing at Monroe Manor memory care facility in Barron, Wisconsin. He died from Lewy Body dementia which he struggled with many years.
Micheal, known to family and friends as Mike, Mick and Mickey, depending on who you were talking to, was born in Stanley, WI on August 1, 1948, the second son born to Dale and Goldie (Karnes) Shilts. He grew up in the Pleasant Valley area, attending country school, Boyd school and graduating from Stanley-Boyd in 1966.
At age nine or ten, Micheal attended a Mennonite Vacation Bible school and it was there that he accepted the Lord Jesus at his Savior. He was active in the youth groups of Full Gospel Mission and Faith Evangelical Free Church. Later he was involved in many ministries at Faith Free in Stanley, as Bible teacher, elder and serving on various committees.
Micheal attended and graduated from UW-Eau Claire. He served with the Wisconsin National Guard from 1969-1975. He worked for Eau Claire County Parks and Forests for 38 years. Some of his responsibilities included grooming cross country ski trails in the winter, keeping electrical sites maintained at Coon Forks County Park along with many other forestry operations. He was truly a Jack of all trades.
Micheal was married to Linda Mohr on October 20, 1973 at Full Gospel Mission Church with dear friend Paul Leitzke officiating. Together they built their home south of Stanley literally from scratch, with timber from their woods. They were blessed with the birth of their son, Matthew, in 1977.
Micheal was a lifelong learner, reading and studying many topics, especially the Bible. He had many hobbies, including hunting and fishing, woodworking, cross country skiing, canoeing and kayaking and geocaching. Many memorable were made to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of Minnesota over the years with family and friends.
In 2019, they moved to Cameron area to be closer to Matt and his family.
He is survived by his wife Linda, son and daughter-in-law Matt and LeAnn, two granddaughters, Katie and Reese; his brother Dennis (Grace); sisters and brother-in-law Peggy (Tom) Karg, Harvey (Sherry) Mohr, Judy (Jim) Brekke, Sally Conroy, and Kirby (Lynn) Mohr; many nieces and nephews and dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Goldie, his in-laws Earl and Harriet Mohr, brother-in-law Dennis Conroy and niece Madeline Brekke.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 6
th
, 2024 at 11am at Faith Evangelical Free Church, 705 N. Madison St, Stanley, WI. There will be visitation preceding the service from 9am-11am.
The family would also like to thank the caring staff at Monroe Manor and the wonderful services provided by Marshfield Medical Center Rice Lake Hospice team.