Kate Allison (Julian) Mickelson (1912 - 2009)

Born 10 Jun 1912 in Pihama, Taranaki, New Zealand

Ancestors

Wife of John Byron Mickelson — married 1936 in New Zealand

Died 14 Nov 2009 at age 97 in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand

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Biography

Kate Julian in 1936, just before her marriage, worked as the Secretary at Opunake High School. Kate was working there again in the 1960's - 70's. At that time, Kate was living on King St, Opunake.

If anyone needed to know anything about Opunake, Kate Mickelson was the person to go to. She knew who was who and just about everything there was to know about the coastal Taranaki town. In 1989 she even wrote a book The Clearing: A History of Opunake. The local icon, historian and author died at the Tainui Village on the weekend, in her 98th year. Until only a few weeks before she died she was still living independently in the chalet she had moved into a year before. Mrs Mickelson was born in 1912 in Pihama, the youngest of 10 Julian children. She moved to Opunake in 1919 and only spent a short time away when her husband John got a job at a dairy factory in Takaka. South Taranaki councillor and Opunake resident Ian Smith said Mrs Mickelson was almost like royalty in town. "She was a mine of information and had a terrific memory." He said Mrs Mickelson had books with handwritten notes about who was buried at the local cemetery. "She kept hand written records on just about everything." Mr Smith used to mow lawns for the former Opunake High School secretary and commercial teacher who enjoyed a quiet sherry or brandy and a chat. "She was a great lady." Another friend, Molly Harvey, said Mrs Mickelson was still getting stories on paper and helping others in the village do the same. "She was typing up until only a short time before she died." She had recently written a series of reminiscences, Mrs Harvey said. Both ladies were involved in Opunake Players and Mrs Mickelson was always the entertainer. "She was a fun person. She had very good legs and didn't mind showing them off," the 92-year-old recalled. She almost always scored the leading female role. "She was and excellent actress." Mrs Mickelson was very community minded and in 1970 she was elected a member of the Egmont County Council – the first woman in Taranaki to do so and one of only three or four in the country. "I had a bit to do with promoting her. I remember putting booklets into people's letterboxes that said `did you know you have a chance to put a woman on the council?'," Mrs Harvey said, with a giggle. Being a wee bit older, Mrs Harvey said Mrs Mickelson, known as Kay to many, was a role model and she will miss her friend. "Now I'll have to challenge on, on my own," she said. Mrs Mickelson is survived by her three sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her funeral will be held on Wednesday followed by a private cremation.

Sources

NZBDM: birth - 1912/28203 Julian Kate Allison mother: Emma father: Frank; marriage - 1936/9010 Kate Alison Julian John Byron Mickelson; death - 2009/29005 Mickelson Kate Alison 10 June 1912

Opunake Times, 14 August 1936 WEDDING MICKELSON - JULIAN. Of interest to many Taranaki residents was the wedding celebrated on Wednesday evening at St. Barnabas’ Church, Opunake, of Kate Alison, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs F. Julian, Opunake, to John Byron, youngest son of Mr and Mrs J. Mickelson, Eltham.