RONALD MICHEL

Funeral for Ronald Lee Michel of Cape Girardeau will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Cathedral. Msgr. Richard Rolwing will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, with graveside rites by American Legion Post 63.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel from 4-9 p.m. today. Parish prayers will be at 7, followed by reciting of the rosary by Knights of Columbus Council 1111.

Michel, 57, died Monday, Feb. 5, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center.

He was born July 21, 1943, in Washington, Mo., son of Henry and Martha Struckhoff Michel. He and Caryn Julius were married Sept. 14, 1968, at Immaculate Conception Church in Union, Mo.

Michel was a graduate of St. Francis Borgia at Washington. He played minor league baseball from 1961-64 with the Minnesota Twins organization. He played for the Cape Capahas from 1971-79.

He was employed at Landgraf Lumber Co. from 1970-76, and was a salesman with Sherwin-Williams Co. from 1976-85. He had owned and operated R.C.M. Services since 1986.

Michel was a junior American Legion baseball coach from 1995-96, and a senior American Legion coach from 1997-2000. He was active in youth baseball more than 20 years.

He was a eucharistic minister and active member of St. Mary's Cathedral. He was also a member of American Legion Post 63, lifetime member of VFW Post 3838, member of Knights of Columbus Council 1111, and Capaha Field Committee.

Michel served in the U.S. Army from 1964-67.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, David J. Michel and wife Stacey of St. Charles, Mo., Jeffrey Michel of Cape Girardeau; three daughters, Debbie, Katherine and Sarah Michel, all of Cape Girdeau; his mother of Washington; and a sister, Mary Lou Bell of Washington.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Pallbearers are John "Doc" Yallaly, Gary Craft, Bill Bohnert, Bob Coons, Donnie Jett and Larry Maunte. Honorary pallbearers are Richard Loomis, Clarence Greaser, Scott Smith and Herb Nance.

Donations may be made to the Capaha Field Improvement Committee at 2103 Themis, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701.