Gino Michelon

Gino Gerimia Michelon was born on November 28, 1925 in Griffith, Australia. His parents Giovanni and Olympia Michelon were immigrating from Italy to Hilt, California at the time. Gino arrived in the United States when he was 8 months old. He was the oldest of six children, three boys (Gino, Atilio, and Mario) and three girls (Eva, Ines, and Diana). Gino spent his childhood in Hilt, attending Hilt Elementary School. He learned to speak English in the first grade and taught his siblings how to speak English, so he was very important to his family’s integration into American life.

Gino attended Yreka High School where he played on the basketball and baseball teams. His senior year was interrupted when he was drafted into the Army when he turned 18 in November during World War II. After basic training his unit - the 99th Infantry - was sent to Germany where he served as a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) infantryman. He fought on the front lines, was in the first assault across the Rhine River, and in the Battle of the Bulge amid brutal winter conditions. He was awarded a Purple Heart.

Upon his discharge from the Army Gino married the love of his life, Clara Marie Phelps and attended College of Marin and Chico State University where he majored in Industrial Arts with a minor in Math. He also earned his Life Teaching Credential at CSU. Upon graduation he was hired to teach math at Weed High School. He spent 33 years teaching upper division math and also served as the Vice Principal for many years. He was beloved by his students who continued to stop by his house to visit many years after they graduated from WHS, and the kids from the neighborhoods visited his whole life long. The community was enriched by the loving, giving, caring, compassionate man that he was.

Gino and Marie had five children: Bill (Karen), Robert (Kathy), Mike (Margie), Sue Stone (Ron) and Jim (Janie). They were blessed with 28 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren.

Gino is survived by his 5 children and his sisters Eva and Ines. He is preceded in death by his lovely bride, his parents, brothers Atilio and Mario and his sister Diana.

Gino was a devout Catholic and was a well-known figure at Holy Family Catholic Church in Weed. He could be seen at mass every Sunday. The most important things to him were his faith, his family and his friends.

There will be a Rosary and Funeral Mass at the Holy Family Catholic Church on July 16th beginning at 10:30 AM with the Rosary followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 and a luncheon reception to celebrate Gino’s life immediately after Mass (at noon) in the attached St. Michael’s hall. He will be greatly missed by everyone he ever encountered - especially his kids!

Several Michelon family members were served with great love and compassion by Mercy Hospice Mt. Shasta staff and the family is very grateful for that care. The family requests any gifts to honor Gino’s life be made to Mercy Hospice Mt Shasta, 914 Pine Street, Mt. Shasta, CA 96067. Online condolences may be made at www.girdnerfuneralchapel.com.