*William Mickelson ’54
*William Mickelson, of Fredericksburg, Va., died April 5, 2014, from catastrophic rupture of his aorta during emergency surgery at VCU Medical Center in Richmond, Va. He was 81 years old. Bill was born on Sept. 17, 1932, in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. He enrolled in St. Olaf College and while there, he met and married his wife, Nancy McLennan Mickelson ’55, and entered AFROTC training. He lettered in football and graduated in 1954, with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and minors in chemistry and physics. At the time of his graduation, he received his commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.
Bill was a highly decorated pilot. He served two tours in Southeast Asia, accumulating 218 combat missions, including 131 over North Vietnam and 131 night missions. His many service awards included 16 Air Medals, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of Merit, Air Force Commendations Medal, and the Outstanding Unit Award with two Oak Leaf Clusters. He retired from active duty in 1984 as a Colonel, with more than 30 years of military service to our country. In his retirement, Bill found great joy spending time with his family, traveling, and enjoying time with his many friends. He was a member of American Legion Post 320 in Spotsylvania, Va. He and Nancy led more than 100 trips around the region, the country, and the world with the 55 Club of Lee’s Hill and the Senior Adult Ministry of Spotsylvania Presbyterian. Dubbed the “Mayor” of Turnberry by his Lee’s Hill neighbors, he always enjoyed meeting and speaking with anyone he met on his daily walks in the neighborhood. It can truly be said that Bill never met a stranger.
He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Nancy; brother, Thomas Mickelson ’66 P ’99; and daughters, Kim Roscoe and her husband, Tom, Karen Iannicelli and her husband, Don, and Kendra Sheets and her husband, Clif. In addition, he is survived by 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
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