From the Peabody Funeral Home:

John R. Michels, 68, of Londonderry, New Hampshire lost his 16 year battle with Leukemia on February 11, 2013.

He was born June 16, 1944, son of Rudolf K. and Ilse G. Michels.

He was raised in Scarsdale, New York.

He graduated from College of the Holy Cross in 1966, Harvard Business School in 1971 and Suffolk University Law School in 1979.

He served as First Lieutenant QMC, 29th Civil Affairs Company with the United States Army and served in Vietnam.

He was a State Representative for two terms, Constitutional Convention delegate for two terms and a sponsor of the successful Equal Rights Amendment and the Right to Know Amendment. He was the Campaign Director for the New Hampshire Primary for President Gerald Ford, as well as the New England Regional Campaign Director of the Presidential Race. He served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention for President Gerald Ford.

From 1971 to 1976, he was Senior Administrative Officer and Portfolio Manager for Cabot Cabot & Forbes Land Trust, Boston, Ma. In 1976 he founded and served as President of Michels Development Company, Inc. in Londonderry, NH.

He was a partner with his wife, Nancy, in the law office of Michels & Michels, Londonderry, New Hampshire. He was the attorney for the Woodmont Commons New Urbanism project in Londonderry.

He served as Town Moderator for years and currently was serving as School District Moderator and Assistant Town Moderator. He previously served as the Danbury Town Moderator. He served as a member of the Londonderry Sewer Commission and was currently serving on the Londonderry International Exchange Committee. He was a Member and Director of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, as well as a Director of the Greater Derry/Londonderry Chamber of Commerce.

He enjoyed skiing , sailing, hiking, collecting flags and license plates.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy, to whom he was married for 40 years, children, Christine A. Hanc and her husband, Jan Hanc, of Manchester, New Hampshire; Robert Michels, of Breckenridge, Colorado and Anne Michels, of Boulder, Colorado; a sister, Doris Edwards, of Gainesville, Florida, and two brothers, Edgar Michels, of Edgewater, Maryland and William Michels, of Plymouth, Vermont and Bald Head, North Carolina. He was predeceased by his parents and a sister, Phoebe Burns, of Florida.

Calling hours will be 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, February 16, 2013 at the Peabody Funeral Home, 290 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, New Hampshire with a Memorial Service following at 4:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 310, White Plains, New York 10605, or the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, Massachusetts 02284 or www.dana-farber.org/gift

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

• Town Reflects on Passing of Local Leader