Noel J. Mickelson lived a life full of courage and talent. While many people know her as the former wife of famous actor John Amos, she was much more than that. She was a skilled artist, a talented horse rider, and a brave woman who stood up against social rules during a difficult time in American history.
Personal Info
| Full Name | Noel Jean Mickelson |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | August 22, 1943 |
| Birth Place | Jackson County, Minnesota, USA |
| Death Date | December 2016 (Age 73) |
| Heritage | Danish and Ashkenazi Jewish |
| Education | Colorado State University (Fine Arts) |
| Known For | Artist, Equestrian, Craftswoman |
| Famous As | First wife of actor John Amos |
| Marriage | 1965 – 1975 (to John Amos) |
| Children | Shannon Amos and K.C. Amos |
| Profession | Artist, Carpenter, Horse Rider |
Early Life and Background
Noel Jean Mickelson was born on August 22, 1943, in Jackson County, Minnesota. Her parents were Wilbur B. Mickelson and Dorothy J. Tims. She grew up in a small Midwest town called Estherville, Iowa. This quiet place with beautiful nature helped shape who she became.
Noel came from an interesting family background. She had Danish and Ashkenazi Jewish roots. Growing up in a farming community, she learned to love nature, animals, and art from a young age. The peaceful country life gave her a strong connection to horses and creative work.
Education and Meeting John Amos
Noel wanted to study art, so she went to Colorado State University. There, she focused on fine arts and developed her creative skills. She tried different art styles and learned many techniques that would help her throughout her life.
At the university, something special happened. She met a young man named John Amos. He was studying theater and sociology while also playing football. When they met, it was love at first sight. They shared the same creative spirit and dreams for the future.
A Brave Marriage
On December 27, 1965, Noel and John got married at the chapel at Colorado State University. This might sound simple, but it was actually very brave. Why? Because Noel was white and John was Black. In 1965, their marriage was illegal in about 16 states across America.
This was during a time when the country was divided by race. Black Americans were fighting for equal rights. Many people did not accept relationships between people of different races. But Noel and John loved each other deeply and decided to marry anyway.
Their courage paid off. Two years later, in 1967, the Supreme Court made a historic decision in a case called Loving v. Virginia. This decision made interracial marriage legal across all of America. Noel and John’s marriage became a symbol of love winning over hate and fear.
Family Life and Children
Noel and John had two wonderful children together. Their daughter Shannon Amos was born on August 5, 1966, in New Jersey. Four years later, in 1970, they welcomed their son Kelly Christopher Amos, nicknamed “K.C.” (named after the Kansas City Chiefs, the team John played football for).
As parents, Noel and John worked hard to protect their children from racism. They created a loving home where their kids could grow up safely. Shannon later shared that even though her father was strict, he was also very funny and loved adventures.
Both children followed creative paths. Shannon became a successful producer, working on popular shows like “Yo! MTV Raps” and “America’s Most Wanted.” She later started her own wellness travel company. K.C. became a talented director and video editor, earning Grammy nominations for his work.
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Career and Passions
Noel was not just a wife and mother. She had her own amazing talents and career. She was a skilled artist who worked with different materials and created beautiful pieces. Her love for art stayed with her throughout her life.
She was also a wonderful horse rider. In fact, she became a world-ranked equestrian, competing in important events during the 1970s and 1980s. She was especially known for her endurance riding skills. Her connection with horses was deep and meaningful.
Besides art and horse riding, Noel was also a talented carpenter and craftswoman. She could work with wood and create useful things with her hands. She cared about the environment and women’s rights too, showing that she thought about making the world better.
Life After Divorce
After ten years of marriage, Noel and John divorced in August 1975. The exact reasons for their split are private, but they remained respectful toward each other. Both continued to care for their children and support their dreams.
After the divorce, Noel stayed in California. She later found love again and married a Disney special-effects engineer who shared her love for creative arts. She lived on a ranch in California, surrounded by the nature and animals she loved.
Difficult Later Years
Life became very hard for Noel in 1996. She had surgery to remove her uterus (called a hysterectomy), but something went terribly wrong. The medical complications from this surgery left her blind and unable to move her body (quadriplegic).
This was a huge change in her life. The woman who once rode horses and created art with her hands now needed constant care. Her second husband took care of her lovingly until he passed away. After that, her children looked after her.
According to her daughter Shannon, Noel died in December 2016 from sepsis caused by bed sores and a tumor. She was 73 years old. When she died, she told her family that she regretted not being able to travel the world and see different places.
A Daughter’s Beautiful Promise
Shannon was heartbroken by her mother’s words. So she made a beautiful promise. In January 2017, she began traveling around the world carrying her mother’s ashes. She took Noel to all the places she dreamed of seeing but never could visit.
This touching act showed how much Shannon loved her mother. It also showed that even after death, Noel’s dreams could come true. Through her daughter’s journey, Noel finally got to explore the world.
Legacy and Impact
Noel J. Mickelson left behind an important legacy. She showed courage by marrying the man she loved when society said it was wrong. She proved that women could be talented in many different areas—art, sports, and crafts.
Her children carry on her creative spirit. Both Shannon and K.C. work in entertainment and creative fields, just like their parents. They often speak about the strong values their mother and father taught them.
Noel’s story reminds us that people are more than just who they married. She was an individual with her own dreams, talents, and achievements. She lived during an important time in American history and helped change attitudes about race and love.
Conclusion
Noel J. Mickelson was a woman of many talents and great courage. From her early days in small-town Iowa to her brave marriage, successful career, and role as a mother, she lived a full and meaningful life.
Though she faced many challenges, including serious health problems in her later years, she never lost her spirit. Her story teaches us about love, bravery, following our passions, and standing up for what we believe in.
While she may be best known as John Amos’s first wife, Noel’s own achievements as an artist, equestrian, and mother make her someone worth remembering. Her life touched many people, and her legacy lives on through her children and the example she set for others.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who was Noel J. Mickelson?
Noel J. Mickelson was an American artist, craftswoman, and equestrian (horse rider). She was born in 1943 in Minnesota and became known as the first wife of famous actor John Amos. She had her own successful career in art and horse riding, competing at world-class levels.
2. Why was Noel J. Mickelson’s marriage important?
Noel married John Amos in 1965 when interracial marriages were still illegal in many American states. Their marriage was brave because they married two years before the Supreme Court made such marriages legal everywhere. They showed that love could break down racial barriers.
3. How many children did Noel J. Mickelson have?
Noel had two children with John Amos. Her daughter Shannon Amos was born in 1966 and became a successful producer and wellness entrepreneur. Her son K.C. Amos was born in 1970 and became a Grammy-nominated director and video editor.
4. What happened to Noel J. Mickelson in her later life?
In 1996, Noel had serious medical problems during surgery that left her blind and unable to move her body. She needed constant care for the rest of her life. She passed away in December 2016 at age 73. Her daughter Shannon honored her by traveling the world with her ashes.
5. What was Noel J. Mickelson’s career?
Noel was a talented artist who worked with different materials. She was also a world-ranked equestrian who competed in horse riding events. She worked as a carpenter and craftswoman too. She was passionate about environmental protection and women’s rights throughout her life.
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