Gary Abe Michelson

Gary Abe Michelson, 83, passed away peacefully on March 5, 2026 in Overland Park, Kansas after a courageous journey with Alzheimer’s.

Born in Danville, Pennsylvania to Abraham and Evelyn Michelson, Gary grew up in Mt. Carmel and Kennett Square, a town he proudly called the Mushroom Capital of the World. His family owned and operated a local Italian grocery store, where he learned the values of hard work, community, and good food that stayed with him throughout his life. Preceded in death by his parents, his brother Michael Michelson, and his first wife Linda Fredericks Michelson, the mother of his children, Gary carried their memories with deep affection.

A gifted athlete, Gary excelled in baseball and community league football at Kennett Square High School and found his greatest passion in wrestling at Lincoln University. He was later inducted into the Lincoln University Sports Hall of Fame for both wrestling and baseball. He remained closely tied to the university, proudly serving on its Board of Trustees. He also served six years in the United States Army Reserve. After college, Gary enjoyed an 18-year career with IBM in New York, where he was repeatedly recognized as a top performer with multiple 100% Club and Golden Circle awards. He later founded Liberty Wire and Cable in Colorado Springs, building it into a successful enterprise before selling the business and retiring in 2006.

Gary embraced life with warmth and enthusiasm. He was a lifelong golfer, a devoted Philadelphia Eagles fan, and a steadfast supporter of Penn State Wrestling. He loved trout fly fishing, a joy that began in childhood with his brother, and he traveled widely, eager to experience new places and cultures. He took special delight in Italian cooking, hosting legendary “Italian Nights” in Colorado Springs where friends gathered in the kitchen to prepare elaborate meals accompanied by fine red wine, laughter, and storytelling. Gary also possessed a rich singing voice and often entertained family and friends with classic songs from Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond, Johnny Mathis, and Michael Bublé.

He is survived by his beloved wife Debbie Michelson; his son Scott Michelson and wife Carlyn, and their children Jackson, Lauren, and Kyra Michelson; his daughter Melissa Walker and husband Jeff, along with her children Alex Jankowski, Tori Jankowski Reid and her husband Ben Reid; and his first great-grandson, Benjamin Reid. Gary will be remembered for his warm spirit, sense of humor, competitive drive, and deep love for his family. His life was marked by resilience, generosity, and a remarkable ability to bring people together through laughter, stories, great meals, and song. A lifelong Christian, he experienced a profound deepening of faith in his later years.