Charles "Charlie" J Mikkelsen

Charles Joseph Mikkelsen (Charlie) passed away on Jan 8, 2026, aged 91, from complications of Alzheimer’s. On July 20, 1934, he was the first of 6 children born to Garfield and Martha Viola (nee Eilers) Mikkelsen. Charlie grew up “on the farm” in Montague and graduated from Montague High School in 1952. He raised & sold pigs to earn enough money to enroll at Western Michigan University. After 2 years at WMU, he enlisted in the Army and served 2 years at Fort Carson, Colorado. He returned to WMU to pursue majors in physical sciences and social studies, graduating with a BA degree in 1959. He later earned an MBA in Political Sciences.

Charlie became a teacher and taught in Berrien Springs, Eaton Rapids and Hart schools before settling in at Montague NBC Middle School, where he served for 33 years before retiring in 1992. While at NBC, he established the school’s first Science Fair, which he organized for over 20 years. Charlie coached middle school girls’ basketball for over 2 decades and began coaching Montague High School baseball in the 1970s. During his baseball coaching career, he amassed an impressive 323 wins, 204 losses and 1 tie, which earned him a place in the Michigan State High School Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. Charlie was a longtime member of Lincoln Golf Club and became a golf teaching professional. He also spent several years coaching girls’ high school softball. He always found time to work with younger kids who wanted to improve their skills, whether it be basketball, softball, baseball or golf.

Charlie established a 50-house bluebird box trail, which he maintained during his 6-mile morning jog before school each morning. He grew amazing fruits & vegetables in his organic garden and was especially proud of his watermelons – the best of which were stolen by his younger brother Spin!

In his retirement, he enjoyed winters in the south, playing cards & billiards, singing with “Men of A-Chord” in Texas, bowling & going to the casino. He and his wife Jean traveled to many wonderful places, including Great Brittain, Australia, Denmark, Hawaii and all over the continental US, including a trip to S. Dakota where they dug up mammoth bones!

In 1961, Charlie married Dora Brown in Lansing, and together they had Charles Joseph III “CJ” (Linda), Edward Garfield (Rosa), Lincoln Matthew and Martha Marie “Muffy” Raym. He married Jean (nee Jager) in 1979 and became stepdad to Dawn (Frank) Almy, Anita (Harry) Hain and Chuck (Laurie) Flagstead. Besides his children, Charlie is survived by his wife Jean, sisters Karen Kari & Delores “Dee” Mikkelson, half-sister Jean Ann Mikkelson, brother Tom Mikkelson, grandchildren Stewart, Henry & Coe Mikkelsen, Sydney Raym and Caitlyn Haisel as well as several great-grandchildren & step-grandchildren.

Charlie’s last year was tough, but was made more comfortable by his wonderful Hospice caregivers.

Memorial Contributions can be made to Montague Athletic Boosters, c/o MAPS, 4900 Stanton Blvd., Montague Michigan or to Hospice of Michigan, 989 Spaulding SE, Ada, Michigan 49301 or online at www.hom.org/donate.