Obituary of Michele Janine Mehl

Michele Mehl (Altin)

May 13, 1962 – December 10, 2024

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Michele on December 10, 2024 at the age of 62. Michele’s loving spirit, beautiful smile, infectious energy, and adventurous heart touched the lives of all who knew her, and she will be profoundly missed.

Michele was born on May 13, 1962, in Medicine Hat, Alberta to Marjorie and Louis Altin. She grew up on the family farm, causing mischief with her siblings, especially Alison. She helped her parents working at their feedlot. Alongside the feedlot, Michele worked at the family business, Altin’s Grocery, where she learned the value of hard work and service to the community.

After graduating from McCoy High School in Medicine Hat, Michele’s sense of adventure led her to Bindloss, where she lived and worked at Minor Ranch for Joe and Donna Minor. She helped with ranch chores and caring for their children, Patrick, Jason, and Eldon. In 1980, Michele moved to Oyen, where she worked in the meat cutting department at H&H Grocery store - where unbeknownst to her at the time, she would catch the eye of a young man named Keith Mehl.

Keith, who would later become the love of her life, admitted he would visit the grocery store every day to buy a 7-Up, even though he didn’t like it, just to catch a glimpse of Michele. His persistence paid off. They were married on October 15, 1983, beginning a wonderful partnership filled with love, adventure, and fun.

Keith and Michele built a life together on the farm, where Michele developed a deep appreciation and passion for farming. Under the guidance of Keith’s father, Marshall, Michele learned the ins and outs of farming. She became an essential part of the operation and had a great knack for fixing just about anything. In 1984, she and Keith took over the farm, pouring their hearts into the land and their work. Together, they raised two sons, Spencer and Mason, whom Michele was endlessly proud of. She was the epitome of a devoted mother, always ensuring her boys were involved in farm life - often taking them along in the tractor, where they developed their own love for agriculture.

Michele had a lifelong affection for red vehicles—whether it was her little red Chevette, red grain trucks, red race car, red Suburban, red Devil (Chevy truck), red Avalanche, and of course red farm equipment—she could always be seen driving in her signature color.

As Spencer and Mason grew older and became more independent, Michele began working off the farm. In 1996, she joined Richard, Jodi, and Robin Woods at the True Value Hardware store, where she worked for 25 years until her passing. Michele was deeply proud of her work at the hardware store, where she found great joy in helping others and serving the community she loved so much.

Michele’s greatest joys in life were her grandchildren, Jamie and Joey. They brought light into her life, and she was overjoyed to be their grandmother. Michele’s pride and love for her family knew no bounds, and she will always be remembered for the love she gave so freely and the joy she spread wherever she went.

Michele loved living. As Mason says, she packed 90 years of life into 62. She enjoyed a wide range of activities including golf, curling, skiing, stock car racing in her younger years, dancing, living the lake life at Jackfish Lake, camping, road trips, traveling, and—of course—pranking. Anyone who knew her can attest that you were never safe from being pranked. Whether it was getting squirted under the table with her little water pistol, dressing up in her many costumes, or being set up with one of her multiple fart machines or whoopee cushions, you always knew you might be a target.

She is survived by her loving husband of 41 years, Keith; sons Spencer and Marissa, their children Jamie & Joey; Mason and Brooke; sisters Pam and Garth McCorkle, Alison Altin and Ross Pederson; sister-in-law & brother-in-law Rita and Bob Wonnenberg; as well as many extended family members and friends who were blessed to know her. Michele was predeceased by her parents, Louis and Marjorie Altin, brother and sister-in-law, Robin and Janice Altin, and niece Jennifer Altin.

Michele touched countless lives with her kindness, compassion, and sense of adventure. Her love, laughter, and unwavering dedication to her family and community will never be forgotten. She was the best wife, mom, grandma, sister, auntie, and friend.

She will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege to know her.

A Prayer Vigil will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Thursday, December 19, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., and a Celebration of Michele’s life will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oyen & District Health Care Foundation in her memory.