Bert Michels, 72, Olney died Friday morning, January 11, 1980 at Lawrence County Memorial Hospital, Lawrenceville. He had recently been a resident of United Methodist Village, Lawrenceville.  Services at the Summers Funeral Home with Rev. Phillip Gardner officiating. Interment in Haven Hill Cemetery.

He was born in Noble July 25, 1907, son of Charles R. Michels and Louemma McDowell Michels. On July 24, 1934 he married Fannie Oliver in Pontiac, Ill. His wife died November 24, 1977.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Loren (Mary) Logsdon, Macomb and Mrs. Bruce (Carolyn) Hilk, Berwyn; two brothers, Joe Michels and Myrl Michels, both of Calhoun; two sisters, Mrs. Tressie Scott and Mrs. Paul (Dorothy) Wilkerson, both of Olney; and  five grandchildren.

He graduated from Olney Township High School in 1926 and at an early age worked at the Olney Daily Mail as carrier, printer and later a reporter. He attended Southern Illinois University,  Carbondale, majoring in history and political science. He taught in Richland County schools at one time and later taught local history several terms at Olney Central College. He was knowledgeable on the subject of local area history and was known as Richland County's "unofficial historian".

In 1933 he was elected to the Richland County Board of Supervisors and later was a social worker with the Illinois Emergency Relief Commission. On June 15, 1938 he was appointed supt. of public aid and retired in 1967 after 32 years of service. Upon his retirement, he became a reporter-feature writer for the Olney Daily Mail, retiring in March of 1975.

In 1973, Mr. Michels was elected to the Olney Township Board of Auditors and served 4 1/2 years. An active member of the First United Methodist Church of Olney, he taught the mens class for several years and was formerly on the administrative board. He has also been a lay church speaker in Richland and Jasper counties.

Mr. Michels was a charter member of Calhoun Ruritan Club, West Salem Masonic Lodge No. 886 and Richland Lodge No. 180, IOOF, Olney.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)