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Michael Pischel

Michael Pischel

PERRONVILLE, MI – Michael Vernon Pischel passed away at his home in Perronville, MI surrounded by his loving family on Sunday February 25th at the age of 59.

Mike was born on March 27th, 1958 in Marquette, MI to Vernon and Lila (Savola) Pischel. He attended Trenary High School and later the NMU Skills Center in Marquette. He graduated from the heating, cooling, and refrigeration program in 1980 and he continued to work in the field for the next 36 years. He started his career out by working in Oklahoma for one year. He then moved to San Angelo, Texas to work for the school district. It was after four years in Texas that he bought his bride an emerald ring and necklace and asked if they could move back to Michigan. She happily agreed and they moved to Marquette, MI where he worked for Duquaine’s for 11 years.

He finished out his career working the last 20 years for Richer’s Refrigeration and Air Conditioning in Escanaba. He was commonly known at local establishments as “Mike from Richer’s”.

Mike married his high school sweetheart, Mellissa, on November 8th, 1980 in Clinton, Oklahoma. They were blessed to spend 37 married years together. Their married life was full of laughter, gardening, and raising their three girls together. Mike had a passion for cooking meals for his family. He especially loved making homemade pasties, cooking turkey dinner, and making meals out of anything. He had a special place in his heart for his granddaughter, Brooklyn. He found true joy in spending time with her, she especially loved to help him cook and to watch movies with her Papa. He was a huge animal lover all throughout his life. Over the years, he cared for a pig, a bird, a few cats, and many dogs.

Mike is survived by his wife Mellissa (Mattson) Pischel; daughters, Nicole (Justin) Madalinski of Bark River, MI and Lisa (Tyler) Mercier of Sun Prairie, WI; granddaughter Brooklyn Madalinski; and his beloved dogs and cat. He is also survived by his sisters Dolores (James) Luczak of Trenary, MI and Valerie Franklin of Menominee, MI; mother- in-law, Carolyn Mattson of Trenary, MI; brothers- in-law, Gregory (Christine) Trowbridge of Trenary and Theodore (Trina) Mattson III of Lewisville, TX; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by daughter Marla Pischel; parents Vernon and Lila Pischel; father- in-law Theodore Mattson Jr.; brothers-in-law Gary Eskelinen and Michael Franklin.

A celebration of life will be on Thursday, March 1st from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Crawford Funeral Home in Escanaba. The funeral service will begin at 3 p.m. with Pastor Rell Spickerman from First Lutheran Church of Trenary officiating. Family and friends are invited to a meal following the service at the Upper Peninsula Plumber and Pipe Fitters Union Hall located at 2601 North 30th Street in Escanaba.

The family would like to send a special thank you to Dr. Ryan, Darcy Getzloff, and all the staff at Green Bay Oncology, Dr. Papp and the Emergency Room staff at Dickinson County Hospital, and all the special hospice nurses, social workers, volunteers, and Dr. Dosh with OSF for all their great care.

The Crawford Funeral Homes are assisting the Pischel family.