Stanley L. Mickel

Mickel, Stanley L., 73, of Springfield, died on Friday, November 28, 2014 at Forest Glen Health Campus, suffering from Lewy Body Dementia. He was born in Springfield, Ohio to Stanley and Marie (Fulton) Mickel. Stan married Karen Adams, his best friend, in 1974. Together, they raised three loving and adored sons, Jeremy, Andy, and Patrick. Stan was a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he learned Chinese language. He was a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, the College of Chinese Culture (Taiwan, ROC) and Indiana University. His first job was with the Central Intelligence Agency. He came back home to Springfield, after several years spent in Taiwan, to accept a position as Professor of Chinese Language and Literature in the Language Department at Wittenberg University, where he taught for 36 years. During his tenure at Wittenberg, he served a number of terms as the Chairperson of the Language Department and the East Asian Studies Program. He was also actively involved in ASIANetwork, a national consortium of liberal arts colleges advancing the study of Asian cultures. He cherished the relationships he developed with students and colleagues in all of his professional and personal settings. Stan prepared for retirement by taking up the hobby of birding, which brought him great pleasure. He travelled extensively with Karen in the early years of his retirement. His sons rallied behind him when his disease began to take over. He is survived by Karen, and their sons and spouses, Jeremy and Joe Waechter of Minneapolis, MN, Andy of San Quentin, CA and Patrick and Kristina of Jacksonville, FL, two sisters and brother-in-laws, Barbara and Charles Davis and Sharon Knight of Springfield, OH, Jack Adams of Sewickley, PA and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, parents-in-law, John and Mavin Adams, and a sister, Patti Freund. Friends may call at the Founders area of the Wittenberg Student Center from 5 to 7 P.M. on Saturday, December 6. A memorial service will be held at Weaver Chapel on the Wittenberg University Campus at 1 P.M. on Sunday, December 7 with Rachel Tune and Jennifer Oldstone-Moore officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wittenberg University. Arrangements are being made by Conroy Funeral Home. The family wishes to thank the staffs at Forest Glen and Gentiva Hospice for their compassionate care and support.