Max Mickelsen Obituary

Max A. Mickelsen was a dairyman, attorney, husband, father, and grandfather, but if you asked him, he'd list them in a different order. He was born in Petaluma on May 2, 1944, and raised on his family's Pepper Road dairy farm in Two Rock. He spent his childhood working with his family on the farm, which shaped him and became a part of him; he often joked that he had "milk in his veins."
Max attended Petaluma High School and then UC Davis. He went on to graduate from the first law school class at UC Davis, earning his Juris Doctor in 1969. After passing the bar, he went to work in Petaluma with Art Lafranchi and Bill Bettinelli, and eventually, the three became partners. Max was a fine lawyer, but more importantly, he was a gentleman; his word was his bond, and his handshake was as good as any signed contract.
Max loved practicing law as much as he loved being a dairyman. Even while practicing law, he eventually took over the family dairy and successfully managed two careers until he sold the dairy in 1999. Max retired on July 1, 2024, after practicing law for over 54 years. Besides helping people as a lawyer, even those who couldn't necessarily afford one, Max gave back to the community in many other ways. He was honored to be a Director of the Sonoma County Fair Board for many years. He was a member of the Petaluma Host Lions Club, the California Guernsey Association, FFA, and many other organizations - Max loved Sonoma County agriculture. He had many other passions, including the 49ers, the SF Giants, and his Tuesday afternoon golf games and dinners at Petaluma Golf and Country Club.
But if you knew Max, you knew that what he loved more than anything was his family. He met Joni Peterson in 1983, and they married in 1985. Max considered himself blessed to have found the love of his life. They were inseparable and traveled through life and the world together. Max loved raising his daughters, Heidi (Matt) Russello and Jennifer Peterson, with Joni. Any conversation with Max soon led to discussions about Heidi and Jennifer (and his granddaughters Mia and Ava); his love for them and pride in who they were as people was evident.
Max fought a determined and dignified battle with cancer but lost that battle on September 7, 2024. Unsurprisingly, Joni was at his side at the end. Max was a kind, gentle, brilliant, and extraordinary man whose presence will be greatly missed by those who knew him.
Max was preceded in death by his mother, Jean, and his father, George. He is survived by his wife Joni, his daughters Heidi (Matt) and Jennifer, and his granddaughters Mia and Ava. Max is also survived by his sisters Amy Sabourin (Greg), Ann Bourne (Rich), and Susan Nowacki (Dean), as well as numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Petaluma High School FFA or the Petaluma Educational Foundation in memory of Max A. Mickelsen.
Friends are invited to attend the Memorial Service on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 11 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 35 Liberty Street, Petaluma, CA. Private interment will be held at Two Rock Cemetery, Petaluma, CA.
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