John M. Mickelson | Temple professor, 91

John M. Mickelson, 91, of Lafayette Hill, a professor emeritus of education at Temple University, died Tuesday at Artman Lutheran Home in Ambler.

Dr. Mickelson taught in the curriculum education and development department at Temple for 37 years and was department chairman for several years. He published articles and consulted for curriculums from preschool through medical school. He retired in 1985.

For more than ten years, he served on the board of the Colonial School District and served on the board of the Friends of William Jeanes Library in Lafayette Hill.

Dr. Mickelson grew up in Santa Barbara, Calif., and became an Eagle Scout as a teenager. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Occidental College in Los Angeles, where he met his future wife, Gail Nelson. During World War II, he served in the Army in Salt Lake City.

After his discharge he earned a doctorate in education from the University of Southern California and then taught at the University of Akron before joining Temple.

He enjoyed travel in the United States and Canada; crossword puzzles; and reading. "He was never without a book," his son, Peter, said.

In addition to his wife of 63 years and son, Dr. Mickelson is survived by a daughter, Marta DeGisi; and seven grandchildren.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. today at Moore & Snear Funeral Home, 300 Fayette St., Conshohocken. Friends may call from 10 a.m. Burial will be in Whitemarsh Memorial Park, Prospectville.