Timothy Carl Mickelson
Life held many paths for Timothy Carl Mickelson. However, they all converged and came to a final end on Wednesday, August 30th at the age of 68. Tim lived to challenge himself, set his goals high and achieved at the upper most level in all he did. Yet ALS ultimately ended his pursuits.
In the small farming community of Deerfield, Wisconsin, Tim started his life. He was a top-notch student and an industrious boy as he and his sister, Peggy, worked from a young age in their family’s grocery store on main street. It was here that Tim developed his strong work ethic, realized the meaning of setting goals and discovered the importance of being respectful to others. Tim personified those traits throughout his life.
Continuing his educational path, he went on to earn an undergraduate degree in Electrical 
Engineering at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Upon graduation, he spent two years in the Army, stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC where he worked as an Environmental Engineer. Following his discharge, he pursued a Masters Degree in Biomedical Engineering at Dartmouth College. He then continued to challenge his inquisitive mind by obtaining a doctorate degree in Exercise Physiology at Ohio University.
This led to much success in his career path. He began working in, and ultimately retired from, the medical electronics field. Starting out in Product Management with Marquette Electronics of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1980, his ability to be self-taught in business management eventually led to his rise to become President and Chief Operating Officer of the company. During his time with Marquette Electronics, the acquisition of Corometrics Medical Systems in 1994 took Tim and his family to Connecticut where he assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer and President of this company. Upon leaving Marquette Electronics in 1998, his family moved to Seattle, Washington where he was CEO of ATL/Philips Medical until his retirement in 2005.
His persona has been told by many, both during his employment and after, as being inspirational, as being a mentor, a compassionate and fair boss and a “people’s person” – approachable, humble and a profound leader.
Another very significant path that Tim pursued was that of athlete. A six year member on the US National Rowing Team, Tim set his sights high. He won a silver medal in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, a gold medal in the World Rowing Championships in 1974 in Lucerne, Switzerland and a gold medal in the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico City-all in the men’s heavyweight eight events. He continued to row competitively the years following as a member of the Milwaukee Rowing Club in Wisconsin and also the Sammamish Rowing Association in Redmond, Washington. Tim was also an avid alpine and cross-country skier, enjoyed hiking, kayaking and biking, was a woodworker, and an accomplished cook and baker. He was also a winemaker in partnership with Cinq Cellars winery in Redmond, Washington
Perhaps the most important path Tim took in his life was that of husband and father. He had a 
passion for living that enveloped his family with his strength, high morals, inspiration and never-ending love. He is survived and loved by his wife of 41 years, Beth Mickelson, sons Dayne (Kelly) Mickelson, Todd (Julia) Mickelson and Bryan Mickelson. He is also survived by his sister, Peggy Mickelson, and two grandsons, Bryce and Ayden Mickelson.
A funeral service is planned for Saturday, September 16th at 4:00PM at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church – 10021 NE 124th Street, Kirkland, Washington. A celebration of his life is planned for early November at the University of Washington Conibear Shellhouse with more details forthcoming. The spring of 2018 there will be an interment at his home church in Deerfield, Wisconsin
Donations can be made to:
Mickelson Family Fund for ALS Research https://goo.gl/eoRvZN or
Mickelson ALS Walk Team Page https://goo.gl/WeiKyp