Paul Michels

Dates

Obituary

Paul S. Michels, 75, of North Sioux City, SD, passed away peacefully Wednesday, July 3, 2024, surrounded by his sister Mary Jo and his brother Steve following a four-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Wednesday, July 17 at St. Martin Catholic Church in Emery, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 pm Tuesday at St. Martin Catholic Church with a 6:30 PM prayer service. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Paul S. Michels was born July 12, 1948, as the second child of Ronald and Marnie Michels. He graduated from Emery High School in 1966 and attended the University of South Dakota, graduating in 1970. After graduation, he served in the US Army in Korea for two years.  Upon his return, he purchased Sandy’s Bar in Emery. Paul later purchased Carey’s Bar in Vermillion, which he ran for the next 20 years. Paul moved to North Sioux City, owning numerous small businesses, including a newspaper and magazine delivery business and a property management business. 

Paul was a spiritual man who helped more people than anyone will ever know. His kind heart and grateful spirit showed through in his peaceful attitude. He was the historian of the family, often remembering the most minute details and dates of events. Paul followed the stock markets closely and was also a big sports fan and history buff. He rarely missed a day of exercise, whether it was running outside or on the treadmill or, in later years, the elliptical machine. Paul will be fondly remembered by those who knew him as “Red or BH” or just plain Paul.  The people he met over the years will remember him for many things, including wearing shorts 12 months of the year. More than anything, Paul will be remembered as a loving person who genuinely cared for anyone lucky enough to know him.

Paul’s spirit will live on in all of those whose lives he touched. He is survived by his sister, Mary Jo Davis and her husband Doyle; brother, Steve and his children: JoHanna (children Trystan, Laila, Dante, and Simone), and Lydia (Dave) Gleiser (children Micsha, Olivia, and Gavin, Julean, and Chloe); sister-in-law, Beverly Blue; niece, Michelle (Tony) Boar and children Anna, Michaela, and Jake. Paul’s family also included the Tran family (Moi and Loan) and children Nhung (Kim), Chi, Vincent, and Michael. The Tran family immigrated from Vietnam to Vermillion in 1975 and immediately became part of Paul’s family.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Bill and Clarisse Michels, and Rudy and Josephine Brown; parents, Ronald and Marnie Michels; brother, Michael Michels; and aunt, Rita Mae Michels.

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