Joseph B. Michel
November 8, 1945 - August 1, 2026

The U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation has recently learned of the death of Col. (Ret.) Joseph B. Michel, CS-7 and CS-22, Class of 1968. Col. Michel passed away on Aug. 1, 2026, in Chula Vista, California. A Funeral Service was held on Aug. 25, 2026, at the Miramar National Cemetery, San Diego, California. His family has suggested to please plant a tree in Joe’s honor or memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Alzheimer's Association or American Cancer Society. Condolences may be left online with his obituary or sent to his family in care of his wife, Mrs. Karen Michel, 816 Calle Lagasca, Chula Vista, CA 91910-8037.

Obituary:

I was born November 8, 1945 at the West Point Military Academy hospital to Colonel Theodore Michel and Joan Birder Michel. My twin brother, Patrick and I were born nine months after my father returned from flying B-25s in the China-Burma-India theater during World War !!. I was baptized a week later in the West Point Cadet Chapel.

I grew up in a military family and attended eight schools in five different states and in Naples, Italy by the time I completed high school in Denver, Colorado. I graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and then went to pilot school at Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, Texas. Coincidentally, my father went to B-25 school at the very same place 25 years earlier.

I followed in my father’s footsteps with a career in the United Stats Air Force. My first assignment was flying C-130’s out of the Philippines and into Vietnam, secondly as a T-41 instructor pilot at the United States Air Force Academy and lastly flying B-52s out of Northern California before separating from active duty.

This is when the best part of my life began.

I met the love of my life, my best friend and my soulmate. The most beautiful woman both inside and out. We were married in 1975 and she gave us two beautiful children. Our son, Bryan, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, lives in Whitefish, Montana and gave us our grandson, Rowan. Our daughter, Christina is a Nurse Practitioner and lives in Pasadena, California with husband Michael. God has richly blessed me with both of them.

God gave me the best life imaginable.

Authored by Joe Michel.

Joe is survived by his wife of 50 years. Karen Marie Michel, son Bryan Joseph Michel, grandson Rowan Volk Michel, daughter Christina Anne Neumeister and son-in law Michael, brothers Theodore James Michel and wife Kathleen, Patrick A. Michel and wife Georgina, and James Timothy Michel and wife Amy. He is also survived by sisters Mary Crescence Epperly, Mary Candida Seay and husband David, and Mary Katherine Meixner and husband Robert.