Obit: Bandt, Michelle Jo (1980 - 2018)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Bandt, Ziegler, Oldham, Apfel, Frank, Zirnhelt, Dean, Ausbourne, Coyle, Price, Moen, Langreck, Puett

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 10/10/2018

Bandt, Michelle Jo (15 October 1980 – 6 October 2018)

Michelle Bandt, age 37, of Granton, WI died Saturday, October 6, 2018 at her home following a lengthy illness.

Michelle Jo Oldham was born on October 15, 1980 in Neillsville, the daughter of Donald “Chester” and Ann (Ziegler) Oldham. She attended Granton High School and while weight-lifting one day found the love of her life, Dwayne Bandt. They were united in marriage on December 5, 1997 at the Zion American Lutheran Church in Granton. Michelle graduated in 1999 and then her and Dwayne purchased five acres of land south of Granton on which they built their home and raised their children. On October 2, 2005, Michelle earned a Medical Office Assistant degree from Thomson Education Direct. She then began working at the Marshfield Clinic as an Office Appointment Coordinator for the Internal Medicine department. She worked there until her illness forced her into early retirement. As Michelle always said, however, “Everything Happens For a Reason” and because of this early retirement she was able to be at home for her children. She loved being a stay-at-home, Mom.

Michelle loved autumn; it was her favorite time of year. She loved the pumpkins and the fall colors. She was a health nut. She would walk four miles on her lunch break at work every day. She loved Nascar, especially Jeff Gordon, she even has a life-sized cutout of him at home. Michelle enjoyed sewing and making quilts, computer games with her friends and listening to the Beatles.

She is survived by her husband, Dwayne, two daughters, Cassondra Bandt of Platteville, and Natasha Bandt of Granton, her parents, Donald “Chester” (Brenda) Oldham of Granton, and Ann (fiancé, Bill Apfel) Ziegler of Marshfield, two sisters, Sara (Andy) Dean of Granton, and Jessica (Lance) Frank of Stevens Point. Michelle is further survived by five nieces and nephews, Allison Zirnhelt, Holly Dean, Ashley Dean, Thomas Frank and Evelyn Frank, her caretaker, Tia Ausbourne and many, many other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Emil and Merna Ziegler, her paternal grandparents, Charles and Margaret Oldham and her in-law’s, Franklin and Geraldine Bandt.

A Memorial Service for Michelle will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, October 11, 2018 at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville. Pastor Andrew Puett will officiate. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday and from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Thursday at the Gesche Funeral Home.

Honorary Pall Bearers are: Toby Coyle, Tede Price, Josh Moen, Jody Bandt and Virginia Langreck.

Online Condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.  The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Michelle’s family with Funeral arrangements.