Michael J. Poeschl

Appleton—Michael J. Poeschl, 76, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 13th, 2024. Mike was born August 19, 1947, the eldest of seven children, to parents Rudolph Jr. and Dorothy Poeschl, in Oshkosh, WI. Mike lived most of his life in Appleton. He graduated from Appleton High School in 1965 and then served his country during the Vietnam War in the Army Corps of Engineers, 9th Infantry Division, 1966-1968. After returning from military service, Mike served an HVAC apprenticeship and spent most of his 39 year career as a journeyman foreman for area mechanical contractors. He retired from Bassett Mechanical in 2007 and was a member of Local 18 Sheet Metal Workers in Milwaukee for 58 years. Mike was a family-focused man with a practical and straightforward approach to life. He had a strong faith in God and became a charter member of St. Pius X Catholic Church in 1958. In 1968, Mike married his high school sweetheart, Margo Heckel and they made their home in Appleton.

Committed, dependable, witty, intelligent, creative, and handy, Mike’s trademark was a job well done. Mike had many talents and interests, but he was most devoted to his R/C aviation hobby. He was a current and longtime member of Valley Aero Modelers, Inc. and AMA Chapter 670. He was a highly skilled scratch builder of scale R/C airplanes, often creating and designing his own plans. While he enjoyed flying the planes he built, his true satisfaction and fulfillment came from the thousands of hours invested in the building process. His patience and meticulous attention to detail was evident in his hobby as well as other areas of his life. He took much pride in landscaping and gardening and enjoyed projects that required creative engineering and problem-solving. Mike especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and had a unique and special bond with each one of them. Backyard campfires, cookouts, extended family get-togethers and birthday club shenanigans with dear friends were some of good times he looked forward to and treasured.

Mike is survived by Margo, his wife of 56 years; children: Jennifer (Joshua) Strahm, and Joseph “Joe” (fiancé Nikki Tasson) Poeschl; grandchildren Chelsea Knaack, Peyton, Hailie, and Logan Poeschl, Gianna Strahm and soon-to-be grandchildren Gianna, Calvin, Bianca and Capri Tasson; great-grandchild Jaxson Knaack; siblings: Karen (Mike) Harris, Bill (Eileen) Poeschl, Linda Poeschl, Lori (John) Osborne, and Dan (Renee) Poeschl; sisters/brothers-in-law: Linda Heckel, Sheri (Bob) Dobratz, Jodi Johnson, Betty (Keith) Rosenberg, and Jan (Al) Buss. Mike was preceded in death by his parents: Rudolph Jr. and Dorothy Poeschl; brother: Bruce Poeschl; grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends.

A memorial visitation will be held from 10 AM - 11:30 on Saturday, May 11th at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 500 W. Marquette St., Appleton, WI 54911, followed by a mass of Christian burial to follow at 11:30 AM and full military honors to be presented afterward.  

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." - Ecclesiastes 3:1-11