Larry "Lonnie" Eugene Mikkelson

Larry “Lonnie” Eugene Mikkelson passed away on July 3rd, 2023.  Lonnie was born to Helmer “Dewey” and Nora Alvina (Nelson) Mikkelson on October 5, 1930, in Rice Lake, Wisconsin.  He grew up and spent most of his life in Chetek.

He graduated from Chetek High School in 1948.  He had an outstanding high school athletic career that included him earning 12 CHS letters.  He earned 3 Varsity Letters in Football, 3 Varsity Letters in Basketball, 2 Varsity Letters in Boxing, and 4 Varsity Letters in Baseball.  Chetek’s 1947 Football team were the Undefeated Lakeland Champs (6-0-2) with Lonnie scoring all touchdowns (except one).  He was also honored with All Conference and All State Football.

Following in his brother Curtis’ “Curt” footsteps he enlisted in United States Marine Corps in 1948.  He was a S/SGT and was deployed to Korea in August of 1950 to May of 1951, in the 1st Marine Brigade “B” Company and 1st Marine Division “E” Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment during the Korean Conflict.  He fought along the Naktong River in the Pusan Perimeter, in the Chosin Reservoir, and along the 38th Parallel. He was one of the “Chosin Few” .  His service ended in 1952, during that time he earned a Purple Heart with two Oak Leaf Clusters, UN Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, 2 Korean War Service Medals, Pistol Expert, Rifle Expert, and other awards and accolades.

In 1951, Lonnie married Joyce Ann Olson; they welcomed Thomas Eugene in 1954 and Valerie Hope in 1955.  When he returned to Chetek he worked as an outboard marine mechanic before opening and operating Lonnie’s Marine.  In 1977, he married Linda Irene Shaurette.  He continued to stay busy working as a shop teacher, bus driver, and a football coach.  He was also 32° Scottish Rite Master Mason and served as the Worshipful Master of the Chetek Masonic Lodge #277 in 1992.  In 2007, he was inducted into the Bulldog Hall of Fame, something that gave him great pride.  In 2015, he was accompanied by his brother-in-law Ken to participate with 82 other veterans in the Honor Flight Northland. The Honor Flight flies veterans to Washington D.C. seeing memorials built in their honor.

Lonnie loved his family and friends.  His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were his pride and joy.  He would boast about them whenever he could. Lonnie was an avid outdoorsman enjoying, hunting, fishing, picking berries, and picking mushrooms.  He also loved gardening, watching sports, and chatting over a cup of coffee.

He was preceded in death by his parents, ex-wife, and mother of his children Joyce, wife Linda, and siblings Curtis and Muriel.

He is survived by his son Tom (Kim) Mikkelson and Valerie (Barry) Hight; his grandchildren, Christian (Sandy) Lehman, Jennifer (Jesse) Lehto, and Peter (April) Mikkelson and Brittany (Bryan) Jelen and Shannon Hight; great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Haley Lehman, Duke, Drake, and Indira Lehto, Amelia and Finnegan Mikkelson, and Tessa Jelen; brothers-in-law Raymond (Marilynn) and Kenneth (Jackie) Shaurette, sister-in-law Mary Shaurette; nephew Aaron (Kimmy) Shaurette and their children and niece Keshia (Doug) Kruchten and their children; as well as many other loving family and friends.

Lonnie will be remembered by his warm smile, bright eyes, firm handshake, hearty laughter, classic one-liners, and gift to gab.

A family military service will be held on Friday, August 11th.  His visitation will be held at Burnham-Ours-Kolstad Funeral Home on Saturday, August 12th, 10am-12pm.  A private funeral will be held at noon.

Lonnie will be interred next to his wife, Linda at the Northern Wisconsin Veteran’s Cemetery, in Spooner, WI.