Born May 7, 1943, to Chet and Beth (Amos) Siedell, he was the second of four brothers. They grew up in Lincoln in a house built by their great-grandfather Charles Percy Walter and great-great grandfather Charles Pennell Walter.
In 1961 he graduated from Lincoln High School.
He enlisted in the army “to be a professional killer”. (He emphasized the word “professional”.) Instead he was sent to the Army Language School in Monterey, California, to learn Chinese. He was then stationed in Taiwan to monitor intercepted radio communications.
After discharge he attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1968 and Master of Science degree in 1970. He studied invertebrate zoology.
While working at the University he met Kimberly Richter. She was an undergraduate student, nine years his junior, working in the same lab. She proposed to him, and a few months later they were married. She said she was attracted by his blue eyes and to his mind. (She mentioned the eyes first.) They were married for 51 years at the time of his death.
In the 1970s they enjoyed camping, driving their Volkswagen Beetle through the Sandhills and Badlands. Mike wore his old army hat at this time, and once had to turn around when he forgot it in a restroom near Scottsbluff.
In the mid-1970s they moved to Waverly so that Kim could be closer to her horse. In 1978 they had a son, Christopher. Mike was a coach for youth baseball and soccer, and spent time serving on the Waverly Parks and Recreation Committee.
Most of his professional life was spent working in the agronomy lab in Keim Hall at the University’s East Campus. He analyzed silage and other samples to help farmers and ranchers. He retired when the lab was shut down in 2008.
He enjoyed a peaceful retirement that became increasingly overshadowed by health problems. He endured these as philosophically as he could, and was thankful he was able to live at home to the end. Near the end of his life he said he considered himself a lucky man.
Reduced mobility and global events of the last few years effectively limited his activities, but he enjoyed keeping in touch with his brothers and old friends through regular online meetings.
In his last year he got out more, visiting Estes Park with his family for the first time. He traveled to Oklahoma to view the total eclipse. In June he stayed at Niobrara State Park and toured the Ashfall Fossil Beds site. He especially enjoyed the Ashfall park for its excellent selection of books.
One of Mike’s most distinguishing characteristics was his insatiable curiosity. His interests varied widely, including chess, languages, Nebraska football, war games, F1 racing, and multiple sciences. In the days before his fall he was reading books about the Vietnam War, early Church martyrs, paleontology, Chinese swear words, and Nebraska history. He said that he could recall any era of his life by what he was reading and what he was eating.
As much as he was enjoying life, after his fall he understood and accepted that his life was nearing its end. He had to be persuaded by his family to let the surgeons and doctors try to fix him. Eventually he insisted on coming home, and he was able to spend his last day at home, as he wanted.
The last song queued up on his iPod touch was “Amazing Grace”, performed by Alan Jackson. In his final hours he asked to listen to it.
Michael is survived by his wife Kimberly; son Christopher; brothers Barry (Linda), Nick, and Tom (Carol); niece Angie; nephews Dan, Tim (Angie), and Jon-Erik (Beth); and his nephews’ multiple children.
A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at the Roper and Sons Waverly location (10851 North 148th Street). Stop by anytime between 12:00 and 2:00 PM to visit with family and friends, and to enjoy a free lunch.
Memorials may be given to the family for future designation.