Obituary: Paul Anthony Michaud

Paul Anthony Michaud passed away peacefully on Jan. 4, 2013, at Centre Avenue Rehabilitation Center in Fort Collins. He was surrounded by many members of his family. Michaud was born in Fort Collins on Aug. 2, 1921, one of nine children born to Joseph Henry and Rosella Agnes Murray Michaud. His siblings, Catherine, Alice, Francis, Nora, Mildred, Larry, Ruth and Leonard, his parents, his infant daughter, Margaret, and loving wife, Berniece, all preceded him in death.

He married Berniece Catherine Stadelman on Sept. 28, 1944 and together they raised their family in Fort Collins. He is survived by 14 of their children: Catherine, a Sister of St. Joseph of Concordia, Kan., of St. Paul Minn.; Jim and wife, Marilyn, of Kettering, Ohio; Robert and wife, Cindy, of Pine Bluffs, Wyo.; Eugene and wife, Gail, of Bellvue; Daniel and wife, Terry, of Eagle, Idaho; Alice and husband, Wes Eades, of Fort Collins; Dale of Cheyenne, and former wife, Cathy Ann, of Lakewood; Jerry and wife, Joan, of Pine Bluffs; Betsy and husband, Ted Craig, of Wellington; Gregory and wife, Patricia, of LaPorte; Virginia and husband, Gary Dissette, of Brighton; Timothy and wife, Heather, of Loveland; Christopher and wife, Nancy, of Eaton; and Dennis and wife, Susie, of Pine Bluffs. He is also survived by his 50 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and four more soon-to-be.

Michaud served as a member of the Army Air Force as an Aircraft Engine and Bomb Sight Mechanic during World War II and was honorably discharged. He and Berniece returned to Fort Collins and farmed in the Wellington and Waverly area for about 14 years. During the drought years in Waverly, he turned to general contracting to support the family. In 1959 he founded Michaud Electric and moved his family to Fort Collins. He expanded Michaud Electric to include Paul’s Lighting and then sold the electrical contracting business to his nephews. He eventually sold Paul’s Lighting and was hired by the city of Fort Collins and worked in the building inspection department until he retired in 1983.

Michaud was a man of many skills and talents. Notably, his projects included building cedar chests for his granddaughters, building a complete solar house and converting a city bus into a motor home. He also designed and fabricated a quarter-scale steam locomotive in his machine shop. One of his greatest pleasures was giving train rides to a countless number of neighbors, friends and family members.

Michaud was a man of faith, conviction and discipline who was very industrious during his lifetime but maintained a wonderful sense of humor. He will be missed!

The Mass of the Resurrection was held Jan. 10, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fort Collins. Interment was at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Fort Collins. Visitation was held Jan. 9 at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

The family requests that any memorial donations please be made to Catholic Charities Northern or to St. Joseph Parish for repairing and replacing the stained glass. For more information visit goesfuneralcare.com.