Clyde Mickelsen

Clyde Mickelsen, 85 of Kearney died Thursday, at Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney. His funeral will will be 10:30 a.m. Wed-nesday, at New Life Church with Pastor Roger Wendt officiating. Interment will follow at Kearney Cemetery with military honors provided by Kearney American Legion Post 52 and VFW Post 759 in conjunction with the Offutt Air Force Base Honor Guard. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, at O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney.

Clyde was born May 20,1937 in Kearney, to Milton and Dorothy (Fox) Mickelsen, at the Johnson Hospital. He was baptized and confirmed at Grace United Brethren church of Kearney, which later became Faith United Methodist.

He was involved in the church beginning at an early age.

He grew up on a farm northeast of Kearney, and as a young boy would watch the WW11 bombers fly over their farm.

He attended Center grade school and Kearney Public High School graduating in 1956. He attended Kearney State Teachers College.

He joined the United States Air Force in 1957, he served four years of regular service and three years of Unit Reserves at Kearney. He learned to fly while in the Air Force which became a lifelong career as well as a hobby.

Clyde was a Barbershopper for many years and was a member of the 1733 Barbershop chorus and also was in 2 barbershop quartets, The Shamrocks, and Habitat 4 Harmony.

In 1975, he married Joan E Thompson and became a stepdad to her daughter Angela.

In 1985, he and Joan E bought Andy's Air Service and Midway Aviation and merged them into Air Midway for the next 23 1/2 years, retiring in 2008. In 2019, Clyde and Joan E were inducted into the Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame, for promoting aviation in Nebraska.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Joan E; step daughter, Angela (Tom) Salestrom; grandsons, Travis (Marissa) Schroder, Tyson (April) Schroder; step grandsons, Ben and Jack Salestrom; nephews, Dan Fulton (Pam), Jim Fulton, David Mickelsen; nieces, Dawn May,(Mel), Michelle Olmedo (Hector), Jane Rasmussen (Keith), Krista Mickelsen; sister-in-law, Rosie Mickelsen; as well as many great nieces, nephews; great-grandchildren; and great-great-nieces and nephews.

Clyde was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Ray; sister, Ruth Chism; niece, Julie Mickelsen; in-laws, John and Mildred Fuller; sister-in-law, Gayle Molzahn; brother-in-law, Calvin Molzahn.