John Chad Michaeli was born on Dec. 10, 1963, in Tooele, Utah, to John Andrew and Judith Ann (Warby) Michaeli. The family moved around several times to places such as Beaver, Utah; St. George Utah; Bunkerville, Nevada; Salt Lake City, Utah; Ajo, Arizona; Phoenix, Arizona; and finally, back to St. George when Chad was around 10 years old. Growing up here was always an adventure as Chad liked to wander from one end of the valley to the other hiking the Red Hill, the Black Hill, the Black Ridge and the Virgin River.
Chad liked to collect many things. Among his many collections were baseball cards, comic books, marbles, stamps and coins. Chad was also an avid reader and spent many hours with his nose in a book. He also liked to work, starting with babysitting for his aunt, mowing lawns and other odd jobs.
Chad enjoyed school and excelled in his schoolwork. As he got older, his interests grew towards cooking, cars and sports. His interest in cooking led him to work at a local restaurant, the Mushroom Farm, starting as a busboy and on to a dishwasher, waiter, cook and then chef.
He finally left the restaurant to work in the mission field spending two years in the Australia Melbourne Mission. Chad brought home a “souvenir,” marrying Nada Christine Faisst on Nov. 29, 1986. They lived in St. George while attending Dixie Junior College and then moved to Cedar City to attend Southern Utah University where Chad graduated magna cum laude in accounting and then obtained a master’s degree in accountancy.
In Cedar City, Chad took advantage of the area by camping, fishing, hunting and taking excursions. Chad also joined the Army National Guard as a medic. While living in Cedar, Chad and Nada welcomed a beautiful daughter into the world in 1995. When they graduated, Chad began working with a local accounting firm and they finally moved back to St. George.
They loved being a family, but in 1997, Nada was called home after childbirth complications. Chad would then meet Debra Larson at a Halloween party, and they were married on Feb. 13, 1998, and sealed in the St. George Temple on Jan. 19, 2001.
They had their own version of “Yours, Mine, and Ours,” combining families and welcoming another gorgeous daughter to make their family complete. The family enjoyed many vacations, camping, traveling, playing games and being together.
Chad kept on reading and following sports of all kinds, but he especially loved football at all levels. Most of all, he loved spending time playing and cooking with his grandchildren.
Chad is survived by his beautiful, faithful and loving companion Debra, children Alayna (Matt) Poe, Kaitlin (Timothy) Harrison, Zachary (Jessica) Poe, Maia (Brandon) LeFevre, Matthew Johnson (nephew) and MaKaylee Johnson (niece); grandchildren Senna, Arlo, Everly, Graham, Leo, Quinn and Bennett. He is also survived by siblings Stacey Michaeli, Angela (Wade) Betts, Jason Michaeli, Jennifer (Tyree) Harris and Marci (Troy) Woodbury.
He is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, wife Nada Christine Michaeli and son John Joshua Michaeli.
Arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff St., St. George, 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to click here to sign Chad’s online guest book.