Arthur L. "Art" Mikel

Arthur L. “Art” Mikel, 78 years old, passed away at 10:35 p.m. on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at Southfield Village, South Bend.  Art was born on June 1, 1942 in South Bend to the late David K. and Harriet (Byers) Mikel.  He has remained a lifelong resident. 

Art was a fun-loving person who was friendly with everybody he came in contact with.  He worked for his dad and retired from Heat Treat, Inc. in South Bend and was a shareholder, along with family members, of Lake City Heat Treat in Warsaw.  Art loved the Lord and was a member of Southlawn United Methodist Church.  He enjoyed singing the hymn “How Great Thou Art” while his friend, Chuck Hamman, would play the piano at Southfield Village where Art resided for the past 4 ½ years. 

Art loved bowling with his dad at Chippewa Bowl where they won ten league championships together and where he met his best friend of 56 years, Fred Christman back in 1964.  He and Fred went to many bowling tournaments together, attended many Notre Dame Football games, including the 1975 Orange Bowl in Miami, FL and the 1978 Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX.  Art was also part of WSBT’s Aunt Flabby’s entertainment group portraying Flabby’s bodyguard Bo at many functions.  While living at Southfield, Art loved coloring and would give out his pictures to about anybody he came into contact.  It gave him great happiness.  Many thanks to the Southfield staff for their wonderful care for Art.  Art faced many medical issues over the past 20 years and handled each one with great faith and strength.

Art is survived by his nephews, John Davis of South Bend, Bill Davis of Syracuse, Doug Davis of Warsaw, Steve Davis of Plymouth, Josh Mikel of Springdale, AR, and Jay Mikel of Gravene, AR; nieces, Julie Whiteman of Lakeville, Priscilla Price of Lakeville, Candy Jenkins of Springdale, AR, Christy Goldbary of Springdale, Pam Roach of Bayfield, CO, and Phyllis Berg of Fayetteville, AR. He is also survived by his adopted brother and caregiver, Fred Christman, of South Bend.  Along with his parents, Art was preceded in death by his sister, Sally Davis and his brother, Edward Mikel. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan Street, South Bend.  Graveside services and burial will follow at Southlawn Cemetery.  Friends may visit with the family from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. 

Contributions in memory of Arthur L. Mikel may be donated to Southlawn United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 10043, South Bend, IN  46680.  Online condolences may be offered to Art’s family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

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