A 60 year old Scandia man died last Wednesday night as a result of a two-vehicle collision on US36 just west of Belleville’s K Street. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Buick LeSabre driven by Fred Mikesell of Scandia and a 2016 International semi-trailer truck driven by Richard Paul, 50, of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, collided when the eastbound semi jacknifed on an ice covered road and collided with the west bound Mikesell vehicle.
The Mikesell vehicle was pushed off the north side of Highway 36 and struck a tree. Mikesell was reported to have died at the accident scene. The accident occurred at 5:17 p.m. The truck driver apparently was not injured.
Fred L. Mikesell, 60, son of Ernest J. Mikesell and Margaret H. (Kroeker) Mikesell, was born on Aug. 28, 1962, in Belleville. He died on December 21, 2022 in Belleville.
Fred grew up on the family farm as the youngest of four children. An outdoors-lover, he could often be found riding his bike, working with animals, or helping tend the fields. He was an avid reader and a lifelong runner, including running cross-country while in high school. After graduating from Belleville High School in 1980, Fred attended Central College in McPherson for two years and then attended Kansas State University, where he received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology.
In 1990 he moved to Zambia, where he stayed six years teaching biology and building relationships with Zambians. He decided he could have a greater impact for God’s kingdom if he received seminary training. This led him to return to the States and complete a master of divinity degree from Wesley Biblical Seminary in Mississippi. He returned to Africa to continue his mission work, this time as a Bible teacher in Sierra Leone, for three more years.
In the mid-2000s, because of his parents’ declining health, Fred returned home and cared for them, both in their home and through making daily visits to the Belleville long-term care facility. Besides taking on the responsibility of managing his parents’ land during this time, Fred also took the initiative to carry on family get-togethers, which usually took place around Christmas. In addition to singing carols and grilling steaks every year, Fred continued his father’s tradition of giving everyone in the family the same gift for Christmas.
Since 2012, Fred also farmed full-time in rural Republic County. He continued to serve others by often preaching in area churches and discipling friends. During this time, Fred took two more short-term mission trips to Uganda, encouraging pastors and their congregations in their work for the Lord.
He is survived by one brother, Dave Mikesell of rural Republic; two sisters, Mrs. Bruce Hettenbach (Judy) of Abilene, and Mrs. Greg Gossell (Nancy) of Lee’s Summit, Mo.
His funeral was held at 10:30 a.m.,Tuesday, at the Belleville Wesleyan Church, conducted by, Pastor Mark McGregor.
Interment was in Union Valley Cemetery, rural Belleville.
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