Ronald Dean Michaelis

Ronald Dean Michaelis, 55, beloved son, brother, uncle, grandson and friend, died Thursday, March 21, 2024. A graveside service will be held on Friday, March 22, 2024 at 2:30 pm at the Utica Cemetery, Utica, KS and a memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 2:00 pm at the Timbers Chapel at 2000 N. Battin St, Wichita, KS. Ronald was born with cerebral palsy. He had a severe physical disability but was mentally perfect. His speech was hard to understand unless he was frustrated, then his frustration was easy to understand, including the curse words he would use. Sarcasm was his love language and he loved to give zingers. The more outrageous, the better. While he was disabled his whole life, he’s now finally free of his wheelchair. When diagnosed with Spastic Athetoid Cerebral Palsy at age one, a new technique called patterning was tried in the hopes he would be able to crawl. The entire communities of Utica, KS and Dighton, KS rallied around him to assist in this treatment. He attended kindergarten in Utica, KS and then moved to go to school at the Capper Foundation in Topeka, KS from age 6 to 21, where he graduated high school. When he started school, special education classes were not available locally. He lived in Topeka most of his life. In 2014, he moved to his own apartment in Wichita, KS at The Timbers Apartments, a housing development built by the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation for persons with disabilities. He loved his independence and having his own place.Some of his favorite experiences included a ski trip to Breckenridge, participating on the World Special Olympics Bocce Ball team in Portugal, Sunday calls with his great aunt Clara and great uncle Walter and going on cruises with his grandma and aunts to various international locations. Two bucket list items he had yet to fulfill were to go on a Nascar car ride along, and ride in a motorcycle sidecar. He hated being treated like a disabled guy.As a child, he loved fishing. For Christmas 2023 he asked for a fishing license so he could do that again. He loved walking in nature and 80’s pop music (especially Whitney Houston). Even just riding around with the windows down was a good day for him. His TV favorites were watching Hallmark Christmas movies, Westerns and Romantic Comedies. He was the son of the late Larry Michaelis and Shirley (Harry) Thomas. Survivors include his mother; sisters Valerie Williams (Michael Geranen); Kimberly (Chris) Read; and Natalie (Brian) Martin, several aunts, beloved nieces and nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his dad; Walter and Clara Horn, a great aunt and uncle that were more like parents; grandparents LeRoy and Bessie Michaelis, Jacob and Olga Reisig; his uncle David Reisig and aunt Pamela Reisig. A memorial has been established with CPRF Wheelchair Clinic, located at 5130 E. 20th St, Wichita, KS 67208.Services in care of Downing & Lahey Mortuary - East Chapel.