Ret. Lt. Col Jack Alfred Mikkelsen

Ret. Lt. Col. Jack Alfred Mikkelsen, 94, of Montrose, Colorado passed away peacefully on October 24th, 2016 at Montrose Memorial Hospital. He was born in Ogden, Utah July 23, 1922 to Clarence Mikkelsen and Bertha Green.

Jack graduated from high school in Ogden, Utah and soon after enlisted in the United States Air Force which became his lifetime career. He was a highly decorated and gifted pilot, successfully completing 26 bombing missions flying B-17’s over occupied Europe and Germany as a Bombardier with the 364th Bombardment Squadron. He also flew 10 combat missions piloting B-29’s against N. Korea during the Korea conflict and flew the airborne command post known as the “Looking Glass” out of SAC headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. The B-47 remained his favorite airplane and his children share fond memories of him “buzzing” their home and tipping his wings to his appreciative audience. After retirement he enjoyed a second career owning and working in his small automobile repair shop in Woodland Park, CO and traveling the country with his wife Edwina in their motor home. Jack was a man of many interests including hunting, fishing, raising tropical fish, and was an avid horseman. He was and is a shining hero to his children and a loyal and devoted husband and friend. We thank God for the gift of his life and the blessing of the time we spent with him.

Lt. Col. Mikkelsen was preceded in death by his beloved wife Edwina, and a daughter, Carolyn Seddon. He is survived by daughters Mary Ann Walczak of Overgaard, AZ, Janet Martz of Tucson, AZ, and Susan Matthews of Tucson, AZ, and sons Edwin Mikkelsen of Montrose, CO and Victor Mikkelsen of Manitou Springs, CO, in addition to many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Lt. Col. Mikkelsen is also survived by his sister, Marion Albertson of Vancouver, Washington.

At his request no service will be held.