Skip to main content

Michael Rae Will

Kossuth County Advance - Staff Photo - Create Article

 

January 22, 1944 - September 19, 2023

 

Michael “Mick” Will passed away peacefully at the age of 79 on Tuesday Sept. 19, 2023, in Atlanta, Ga.

Mick was born on Jan. 22, 1944, in Corwith to Fred and Vera (Wagner) Will. He grew up on the family farm with his older brother Roger and twin sister Mary. Mick thrived playing baseball and basketball, and his Corwith-Wesley High team won the school’s first state baseball championship in 1958. He attended Wartburg College, in Waverly where he met his beloved bride Barbara “Barb” Ruprich to whom he  was happily married for 57 years.

Shortly after graduation from Wartburg Mick began a 38-year career at Tennant Company, where he excelled as a sales executive serving the industrial and commercial sector. He enjoyed his years at Tennant and cherished the friendships with colleagues that were forged on the many sales leadership trips he earned as a top producer at the company. He always proudly showed people the Tennant sweepers whenever he saw them. While he traveled extensively, he took pride in his children’s many sports accomplishments and could always be seen in the stands rooting them on. Mick retired from Tennant in 2006 at 62 years old after roles in Madison, Wis., Orlando, Fla., St. Louis, Mo., and Atlanta, Ga.

After retiring, Mick fully embraced the second phase of his life. He and Barb traveled extensively to spend time with family and friends, and they always made time for a trip to a casino when possible. Mick could often be found watching the stock ticker or NASCAR races on TV or working through his daily phone call list. Mick never missed a game with his many grandchildren and would bring his smile and big personality to the sports venues in Atlanta and Birmingham. He enjoyed eating meals with friends and having people over to sit long hours on his patio at home. You could also always count on Mick to engage with strangers everywhere he went. After each meal, he would have the personal story of the wait staff.

Mick is survived by his loving wife Barb, his twin sister Mary Aagard (Steve), his sisters-in-law Karen McCarthy and Connie Will, his children Chad (LeeAnne), Jodie (Brian) and Amy; his grandchildren Parker, Alexander, Kensington, Brooke, Mason, Thomson and John “JD” Duncan.

Mick was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, his brother Roger Will, his brother-in-law Jack McCarthy and his son-in-law Hardy Brumfield.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to their favorite charity.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. at Saint Luke’s Presbyterian Church, 1978 Mount Vernon Road, Atlanta, Georgia, 30338. A Celebration of Mick’s Life will follow from 5 to 8 p.m. at AC Hotel Atlanta Perimeter 40 Perimeter Center Place Dunwoody, Georgia 30346.

Sign up for News Alerts

Subscribe to news updates