Paul Michaud

Paul Anthony Michaud passed away peacefully on January 4, 2013 at Centre Avenue Health & Rehab Facility in Fort Collins. He was surrounded by many members of his family. Paul was born in Fort Collins, Colorado on August 2, 1921 and was one of nine children born to Joseph Henry and Rosella Agnes Murray Michaud. His siblings, Catherine, Alice, Francis, Nora, Mildred, Larry, Ruth, and Leonard as well as his parents, his infant daughter Margaret and loving wife Berniece all preceded him in death. He married Berniece Catherine Stadelman on September 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, Kansas, 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, Colo., Daniel and wife Terry of Eagle, Idaho, Alice and husband Wes Eades of Ft. Collins, Colo., Dale of Cheyenne, Wyo., and former wife Cathy Ann of Lakewood, Colo., Jerry and wife Joan of Pine Bluffs, Wyo., Betsy and husband Ted Craig of Wellington, Colo., Gregory and wife Patricia of LaPorte, Colo., Virginia and husband Gary Dissette of Brighton, Colo., Timothy and wife Heather of Loveland, Colo., Christopher and wife Nancy of Eaton, Colo., and Dennis and wife Susie of Pine Bluffs, Wyo. He is also survived by his 50 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and four more soon to be. Paul 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 Ft. Collins and farmed in the Wellington, 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 in the Building Inspection Department and worked for the city until he retired in 1983. Paul 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. Paul 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 will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 10, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 300 West Mountain Ave., Fort Collins. Interment will be at Resthaven Memory Gardens 8426 S. U. S. 287, Fort Collins. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 PM , Wednesday, January 9 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with the vigil service and rosary at 7 p.m. 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.

Paul Michaud

August 2, 1921 - January 4, 2013