Joseph A. Michels, a resident of Aurora, Illinois, passed away in a calm and serene manner at his residence on April 3, 2024, at the age of seventy. The town is in mourning over the loss of one of its own.
Joe’s life was a monument to the long relationships of friendship, the treasured recollections of boyhood, and the love for his city. Joe was born in Aurora on February 7, 1954, and his life demonstrated all of these things.
Joe was born and raised on Lehnertz Avenue, affectionately referred to as “the Hill.” His roots ran deep in the city of Aurora. It was in this place that he established connections that would last a lifetime, began his adventures along the paper route, and created experiences that he would treasure for the rest of his life.
The man that Joe became was a kind and caring individual who had a profound love for community and togetherness. Joe’s upbringing in Aurora had the primary influence on his development.
It was his talent to bring people together, and he was always the life of the party, bringing happiness and laughter wherever he went. He had a flair for drawing people together. Joe was a dedicated son, brother, and friend in addition to having a lively personality with a lot of vibrancy.
Joe’s presence gave warmth and delight to everyone who knew him, whether it was via the sharing of stories of his childhood exploits on “the Hill” or by the simple act of each of them simply enjoying each other’s company.
