Dr. Richard A. (“Rick”) Mickle died Friday, December 2, 2011, following a tragic motor vehicle accident. Rick was the second of four children born to William W. and Mary Alice Mickle, of Shenandoah, Iowa. Following high school, Rick attended the University of Arizona in Tucson and Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics in 1977. He then attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy in 1982. He then attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Missouri, and received his Doctor of Osteopathy degree in 1986. Following an internship at the Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital and residency at the Osteopathic Medical Center of Philadelphia, Rick settled in Phoenix and opened Adobe E.N.T. and Allergy offices in Mesa and Casa Grande. He served as an adjunct clinical professor at the Midwestern College of Osteopathic Medicine and Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, and on the Board of Directors of Mesa General Hospital. He also served on the Credentials Committee of Health Choice of Arizona and as Chair of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee at Arizona Regional Hospital. Rick is survived by sons, James R. and Thomas R., and former wife Kathleen of Phoenix; Siblings William W. (“Mick”) Mickle II and wife Janice, Michele Mickle Ernst and husband Rick of Lincoln, Nebraska, Matthew S. Mickle and wife Kim of Pearland, Texas, three nieces, five nephews, two great-nieces, two great-nephews, and many loving aunts, uncles, friends and associates. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 2121 South Rural Road, Tempe, Arizona, Thursday, December 8 at 11:00 a.m. A Rosary will be held at the Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 East Indian School Road, Phoenix, Arizona, Wednesday, December 7, at 7:00 p.m. Visitation begins at 4pm, with family greeting guests beginning at 6pm. Condolences may be offered at www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Catholic Education Arizona, 2025 North 3rd Street, Suite 165, Phoenix, Arizona 85004; Arizona Humane Society, 1521 West Dobbins Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85041 or Creighton University College of Pharmacy Scholarship Fund, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68178.
Janet Revell Barrett
I am so sorry to hear of Rick’s passing and think fondly of all the hours we spent in friendly competition as classmates in Shenandoah. My condolences to his family and friends.
Janet Revell Barrett
Evanston, IL
Brandi Conner
Dr. Mickle was an amazing, caring physician and a wonderful colleague. I enjoyed working with him. He will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this very difficult time. God bless.
Brookline College- Tempe
“Dr. Rick” served a great purpose and touched so many lives. Though we did not know him personally, we know of his great works to his patients and the healthcare community. One being in allowing our students to gain experience by doing a rotation in his clinic. This is truly a loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Su Clinica Del Valle
It is with great sadness to hear of Dr. Mickle’s passing. While we never met , he saw all of our patients with great professionalism, and he truly helped us in many times of need. Our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends at this sad time.
Teri and Tom Dimka
Rick was a fun-loving and caring cousin. I have always cherished the memories of our younger days visiting and playing together. Our thoughts and prayers are with his entire family as you struggle through this tragic loss. We love you, Rick, and we will miss you.
Margaret Sherrick
Rick has always been a ray of sunshine in the lives that he touched…among his family, friends, patients and to those that worked with him. He was a true, kind, humble man with a gift to make those around him laugh. He brightened many a day. I am so lucky to have known him as my friend. He is sorely missed.
Chris Erickson
To the Mickle family,
I was so sorry to hear about Rick’s passing. As you know, Rick was a great guy. He had a large influence on many of us in the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity in Lincoln. His sense of humor was overwhelming. You all will be in my prayers.
Chris Erickson
Mike & Amy Zeleny
It was always a pleasure to see Rick in Nebraska, including at Thanksgiving Mass just last week. His sense of humor and love of faith and family were obvious. Our thoughts and prayers — for the happy repose of his soul into Heaven and for his beloved sons and family members — are with you. God bless.
Lori Cheverez, DON Warner Park Surgery Center
Dr. Mickle was a pleasure to work with, he will be greatly missed by his patients and all of the staff here at Warner Park Surgery Center.
We are deeply sorry for you loss.
Kevin Boatright
Personally, and on behalf of the Beta Theta Chapter of Phi Kappa Tau at the University of Kansas, I extend sincere condolences to the Mickle family, especially my Nebraska Wesleyan fraternity brother, Mick Mickle and his wife Janice. “We are brothers now and ever.”
Heidi Haight-Biehler, DO
Dr. Mickle was a treasured colleague and will be sorely missed. His wit, willingness to “go the extra mile”, and his kind heart were always appreciated and will be remembered always. My condolences to his family and friends.
Doug Osburn
Dr Mickle treated me for only a few weeks and his passing is a great shock. He was supremely professional yet down to earth and accessible with a great sense of humor. I will miss him very much.
My deepest sympathies to his family and staff.
Teddy M. Yap, M.D.
Dr. Mickle was a good man. Most of all, he was my friend. He will not be forgotten.
Stanley P. Brysacz, D.O.
My sincere condolences to the Bickle family . Rick had been a respected and trusted colleague for many years . He will be missed by the many physicians who requested his consultation regarding ENT and allergy problems . Dr. Mickle will also be remembered for his dedication to the Osteopathic Profession and the many hours he spent in committee and organizational work.
Mike & Julie McLaughlin
We were shocked and saddened by Rick’s passing. We always had a great time with him. My son’s and I spent the weekend before his accident with Rick in Lincoln at a football game. Our son Blair was close to him and we will all miss him greatly.
David & Sheila Hill
We were neighbors of Dr. Rick, Thomas and James for years when we lived in Phoenix. As a fellow Husker we watched many football games together and celebrated the victories and bemoaned the defeats. He was a great friend, a fine doctor and a wonderful father. We are greatly saddened by his death and our thoughts and prayers are with all of his family.
Al Ambrosia, DO
My heart is heavy for the Mickle family in the time of great loss. My prayers and those of my family are with you for consolation in your grief and hope in the life to come that Rick is now preparing for you. May God bless you and give you strength in time of trial.
Sheila Connell Green
My heartfelt sympathy to Rick and his family. I remember him from high school and also seeing the family every Sunday at St. Mary’s.
ARMC Medical Records Dept.
Our Condolences to Dr Mickles loved ones; he was a very delightful doctor to work with always with a smile even after harassing him to complete his Medical records J
He always made us laugh and feel at ease. He will truly be missed from AZ Regional’s Medical Records Dept.
Our prayers go out to the family!
Sincerely,
Isabelle
Vanessa
Gloria
Ross and Jon Metcalf
Death more than life reminds us best about what is most important, especially when a life like Rick’s is so suddenly taken from us. Words always fail when we hope to provide the most comfort, and yet we want you James and Thomas, and the rest of the family, to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you just as it will be with so many other people, who knew and cared for Rick. God bless.
denise reed lamoreaux
My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time. A life cut short for sure…
Karen (Gowing) Mathis
So very sorry to here of Rick’s accident and passing. I have many, many fond memories of him during our high school years. He was a great guy. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Marie Baker
There are absolutely no words that can express how truly sorry I am to hear about Dr Mickle. He will be missed by many people who enjoyed his sense of humor and his charm. It was my pleasure to get to know him and laugh with him in the mormings when he came to do surgery at Warner Park. May he rest in peace. God Bless his family.
Marie Baker RT ( R )
Jana Voitenko
My deepest sympathies to all family, friends, coworkers and patients who knew & cared for Dr Mickle.
Ed O'Brien
Of all the accomplishments listed for Rick, there is something not mentioned. Dr. Rick was a Religious Education teacher at Mt. Carmel working in Sacramental Preparation. He was my partner for several years. To me, this is as important as anything he ever did in his short life. We had so much fun together. I would tell very subtle jokes during class, and Rick would just be in stiches in laughter. I will never forget his help, devotion, and Faith.
Nor will God. He is in a very special place now.
Dr Mel and Kathy Gentile
Rick has been a long term dental patient of ours for over 15 plus years. We always totally enjoyed his visits and will miss his great smile as we know you wil too. He was so proud of you kids and beamed as he shared your family stories with us. Our heartfelt condolences are with you and your family. At this time of we wish you comfort and peace.in knowing he was a wonderful man.
Tom Creighton, Nevis, Minnsota
I was stunned to hear of the tragic death of Rick. My deepest sympathies to you, Mick, and your entire family. I knew Rick as a young man. Rick always had more energy than us all, a smile and laugh for every situation, and the light in the room when he entered. I am not surprised that he went on to such an impressive career helping others. To his family, please know that there are those many of you have never met who mourn the loss of your brother, father, uncle, and friend.
Carol Hornbuckle
I am so sorry to hear of Rick Mickle’s untimely death. My sincere condolences to the family. I taught Rick language arts when he was in eighth grade in the Shenandoah schools. He was a bright, creative student. I remember that he drew wonderful cartoons with an aardvark as the main character. His family supported his creativeness and zest for life, which I’m sure he lived out in his adult years, and passed on to others.
Dr. and Mrs. Charles Gardner
Dr. Mickle a fellow colleague of ours as well as our physician and friend will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with family and friends.
Frankie Winegardner
On behalf of our entire family, we send our deepest sorrow at a loss too soon and too abrupt. Rick was our neighbor growing up and all his family were considered close friends. While time and distance has separated us from having known Rick in his adulthood, we feel great sadness and send our regrets and condolences to Rick’s family in Phoenix.
the Winegardners on Elm Street – Molly, Frankie, Susie and Jenny
Everest College Phoenix - Mesa Campus
On behalf of the staff, faculty, students and graduates of Everest College Phoenix Mesa Campus, please accept our heartfelt condolences regarding Dr. Mickle’s passing. He and his staff partnered with our college to host many student externships as well as hire our graduates. Dr. Mickle will be greatly missed for his positive approach of support and being a champion for those new to the medical field. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time of sorrow and loss.
Mary S. Ritter
Campus President
Carl Labbe
I had the pleasure of working with Rick at ASU Student Health Center where he would often visit us in the pharmacy. We would talk of pharmacy and medicine and, of course, any attractive coed that passed by the pharmacy windows facing Palm Walk. Rick loved his profession and enjoyed people. We have truly lost a wonderful man. My sincere condolences to those closest to him who will feel the loss most deeply.
brenda kutch
Dr Mickle what a wonderful and humble man. You were always a joy to work with even back at Baywood. Warner will miss you and I will miss you. You are loved and won’t be forgotten. Rest in peace! My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Angel Kukawski RN
Dr. Mickle was wonderful and fun to work with. He cared about his patients and those he worked with. He would always come find me and sit down and tell me a joke or funny story and ask about my family. He treated my husband as a patient and was always concerned about him. He was absolutely one of my favorite doctors to work with. He will be greatly missed. My condolences and prayers go out to his family and to the many people who loved him and whose lives he touched.
Jason
Dr. Mickle was a true physician who cared deeply about his patients and the community. He will be missed. Thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones in this time of tragedy. God bless.
Dr. and Mrs. Gary Eden
We were saddened to learn of Rick’s death. In fact, it was through friends and colleagues that we heard the shocking news. Rick had touched so many lives. People truly cared about him and will miss him. We will keep your family in our thoughts and prayers.
Amy Greenleaf Payne
I was so sorry to hear of Rick’s passing. I will always remember him for the fun and spirited classmate that he was. My prayers for all of you. Amy
Judy White Christian
I am so sorry to hear about Rick. He was a great classmate and always fun to visit with–he will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Mickle family. Judy
Dr.'s Gene and Martha Prendergast
We remember when Rick first came to MGH after his residency. He was a great ENT and a great asset to the hospital. We pray for Dr. Rick’s family. He will be sorely missed.
lee ann lofton
to the mickle family and staff & friends.I was deeply sorry to hear today that he had passed.I was one of his patients and saw him a couple of times.He made me feel so comfortable and relaxed very kind,caring doctor.I know he will be greatly missed and loved and cherished forever.when i would be in the waiting room to be seen and other patients came in.I would hear them say how great a doctor he was and how kind and all he was.I know his in heaven smiling down on us all amen.God be the glory! and i know he misses you all too and love you all truly.He was a remarkable man.
Sandra Poppell, DO
I was so shocked to learn of Rick’s accident and passing. He was such a caring and compassionate physician and friend. Rick had the most wonderful laugh and always brought so much happiness and fun to everything he did. My sincere condolences to his sons and family and please know that there are many, many people who loved and cared about him. God bless you all in your time of sorrow. Sandra
Rhonda Lesher
Rick was such a loving and caring man. I will miss him dearly. I remember one time we went driving in my new Camaro, the excitement on his face. You could just see the joy beaming all around him. It was like he was transformed into another age. We had so many terrific times. Rick was truly an awesome man and my light at the end of the tunnel. He helped me in so many different ways. My deepest condolences to all of Rick’s family and everyone who was lucky enough to of know him.
The Brothers of Phi Kappa Tau
It’s been over a year. We still miss you and think of you often. Today
would be your birthday. You are in our prayers. We are brothers now and ever…..
In Phi
Dave Dahlgren
Very saddened to hear of Dr. Mickle’s passing. He helped me heal problems. Great doctor and man.