Stan

TapiolaNov 7, 2021: Stanley R Michaelson, P.E., age 84, passed away at his Tapiola home surrounded by family following a short illness. Stan was born on May 21, 1937, in a farmhouse bedroom in Baraga. Son of Caroline Carrie Maki and Rupert Michaelson, he grew up on the Michaelson homestead in Elo as the first-born child of a blacksmith, farmer, and inventor. Stan learned at a young age to work hard with his hands - tending animals, working the land, and fixing machinery. Stan attended Doelle Agricultural School in Tapiola, where he met his high school sweetheart and future wife, Ida Edie Hyypio. They married on August 24, 1957 just two years out of High School, while Stan was attending Michigan Tech University in Houghton. While Ida worked at Superior National Bank in Hancock, Stan completed his bachelors degree in Civil Engineering in 1959, and they began their family in earnest.As a new engineer, Stan found work with the Army Corps of Engineers, which required a move to Detroit. During that year, they longed to return to Tapiola, and Stan took the first opportunity to return home. He began working for the Upper Peninsula Power Company, and by 1963, they had three young boys and purchased the 80-acre farm in Tapiola they still call home. Soon after, Stan took a job at Yalmer Mattila Contracting, where he supervised many construction projects throughout the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin. Many family road trips since served as unofficial tours of the many bridges, dams, buildings, and other projects he was proud to have worked on in his career. He was a valued employee at Yalmer Mattila Contracting and thought of highly by many people he worked with throughout the industry. Not only was Stan proud to be a Professional Engineer, but he was also extremely proud to have several sons, nephews, grandsons, and in-laws carry the title of Professional Engineer.Retiring in 1999, Stan, Edie and their daughter Kristine drove their RV to Alaska, enjoying months on the road crossing the US and Canada. While Stan loved seeing the variety of natural beauty and wilderness along the way, he was never happier than to return to the Copper Country. Stan CapStan was an avid fisherman and boater. He loved his 1954 Chris-Craft, the Maria Ann and the waters of Lake Superior. Stan and his close friends, the Tapiola Navy made several weeklong trips on the Big Lake. Destinations included Isle Royale, the Huron Islands, navigating around the Keweenaw Peninsula and the Apostle Islands. Stan loved fishing for and catching lake trout. He took immense pride in being able to share his love of lake trout fishing with his friends and family. He had a long list of regular fishing partners but hardly ever turned down the chance to take any interested party out on his boat – to fish or not. He was a successful deer hunter who shared his love of hunting and comradery with his sons and his Hatala Camp buddies. And when retirement afforded him the time, he expanded his hobbies to include woodworking, through the creation of his own sawmill and wood shop. Where some burgeoning hobbyists may start small, Stan instead tackled the design, engineering, and construction of a square log building, fashioned after the Finnish log homes of the past. He developed a chainsaw jig that enabled him to cut a compound dovetail joint that cinched the building together with gravity and time. Stan was a man of faith who served many years as a reader, assistant minister, and in various positions on the church council - first at his childhood church Our Saviors Lutheran of Elo, and later at the merged Mission United Lutheran Church of Pelkie. He also served as a volunteer Fire Fighter and First Responder with the Otter Lake Volunteer Fire Department. His love of people and talking lent themselves well to the role of emcee at the annual Firemans Festival for many years. Above all though, Stan was most proud of his role as husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great grandfather, and uncle. He was proud to the point of bursting buttons when he could stand in a circle, holding hands, and share a Sunday blessing at a family meal. He instituted a count-off of dinner attendees at every large gathering to illustrate the breadth and width of his family, both by blood and by love. He relished being the patriarch of his family, who for their blessings or failings, seemed to be able to love each other in good times and bad. Stan is preceded in death by his parents Rupert and Caroline, brother Bruce and sister Susan.Stan is survived by his wife Ida (Hyypio), sons Jim (Michele), Mark (Karen), Nate (Cheryl), Neil, and Robert (Jennifer); daughters Maria (Mark) Spencer, and Kristine Michaelson; grandchildren Joel (Naomi), Samantha, Grayson, Grant, Becky (Cale), Billy (Lexie), Andy, Liz (Jethro), Joe, Katy, Rochelle, Rikki, Kyle, Phillip, David, Nicklas, Jack and Emily; great-grandchildren Avery, Jared, Ellie, Hailee, and Jenny; cousins, nieces and nephews; and many neighbors and friends.Stans family would like to extend thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff of the BCMH Home Care, Bayside Village and UP Health Marquette.The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Services Mt. View Chapel of South Range is assisting the family with the arrangements.