Herland Mikkelsen Obituary (1922 - 2012) - Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Herland Travelle Mikkelsen 7/19/22 > 12/07/12 H.T. "Mike" Mikkelsen passed on from this world to the next December 07, 2012 in his daughter's home, Lake Havasu City, AZ. Although he was 90, he had the strength and vigor of a much younger man. Had it not been for the cancer, he may have lived on for many more years. Mike was born on July 19, 1922, in Staten Island, N.Y., to Christine Jentzen and Thomas Mikkelsen. He moved to New Jersey in 1967, and then to Lake Havasu City in 2007. Mike loved New Jersey & called it his home, driving about town with a license plate that read "I Love New Jersey". Mike and his bride, the love of his life, his "Cutie", Betty Irene Gall grew up together. They were neighbors and went to the same schools. He told his family that he met Betty when he was just 12 years old and lost his heart to her forever. They were married for 68 years when Betty preceded Mike in death on March 20, 2011. He missed her terribly after her passing & was looking forward to their being reunited. Mike served his country during WWII, as a Merchant Marine, and at the age of 19, he was involved in the infamous U-Boat attack on the industrial harbor of New York. Although 34 tugs were destroyed, Mike survived and was instrumental in the survival of several other boatmen. A running back during his high-school years, Mike was scouted by the Green Bay Packers and invited to a formal try-out in Wisconsin but decided to stay in New York to be with his sweetheart. Instead, Mike chose to follow in his father's footsteps and work on the tugboats of the New York City harbor. Mike worked his way up to be a tugboat captain and eventually Harbor Pilot. With an unparalleled knowledge of the New York City waterways, Mike would take command of and navigate the largest ocean tankers in and out of the New York City waterways and along the East Coast. He was well known as a "cracker jack boatman" and affectionately referred to as "Captain Mike" by the people who knew him. Mike worked for Exxon Mobil Corporation for 40 years, the number of days he missed work could be counted on one hand. That kind of steady, old-fashioned perseverance was a mark of his character, a character defined by consistent warmth and hard work. He also worked for his father-in-law's trucking and crane business for several years. The cranes were a far cry from the harbors of New York, but he found the work interesting. He would tell his family about his experiences moving houses, hauling large cranes & even setting steel for the Verrazano Narrows Bridge that spans from Brooklyn to Staten Island, New York. Mike is survived by his 2 daughters, Ethel C. Sloan of Hanford, CA & Elizabeth Jill Darling of Lake Havasu City, AZ, his son-in-law and friend, Arlon Woodlee also of Lake Havasu City, AZ, as well as a very special godchild, Michele Genetos of Fountain Hills, AZ. Mike had 5 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Despite his living a full, rich 90 years, they all wish he could have lived forever. Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, 12/15/12. 1pm at the St. Michael's Unified Methodist Church, 2895 S. Jamaica Blvd, Lake Havasu City, AZ In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to St. Michael's Unified Methodist Church in Herland's name. Thoughts and condolences can be sent to Mike's family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com Arrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home & Crematory.