Ernest S. “Ernie” Micek
Ernest S. “Ernie” Micek, 84 of Dresbach, MN., passed away peacefully, Thursday, October 29, with family members and caregivers by his side, following a long illness.
His life was an amazing journey. Born in Arcadia, February 18, 1936, he grew up on a small, rocky and hilly farm where he was instilled from an early age with the values of family, faith and hard work. Following graduation from UW–Madison in 1959, with a degree in Chemical Engineering, he went on to work for Cargill, Inc. There he saw a gradual ascent from night shift supervisor at an oilseeds plant in Norfolk, VA., to the pinnacle of one of the worlds largest corporations over a span of 42 years, when, in 1995, he was elected as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cargill Inc.
Despite years of global responsibilities and travel, he never lost sight of his roots, retiring in August 2000, to a home on the Mississippi River, with a nearby hobby farm in the bluffs. Ernie did not slow down one bit, giving back by applying his wealth of managerial experience to service in the areas of global affairs and education. Just a few of many examples include: appointee to the President’s Export Council, Asian-Pacific Economic Council, and Chairman of the Emergency Committee for American Trade. He was part of the President’s Trade Mission to Africa in 1998, and was a member of President Bush’s Transition Team on Trade. He served as co-chair of the Advisory Board of the World Agricultural Forum alongside a former Prime Minister of New Zealand, and had testified before various House and Senate committees relating to trade matters. He made numerous speeches, including addressing The World Trade Organization (WTO) in Seattle in 1999. He served for 18 years as a director of Schneider National, Inc. of Green Bay, and five years as a director of Kwik Trip, Inc. of La Crosse. Ernest served as member of the Board of Overseers of the Carlson School of Management, and as a member of the Board of Trustees, University of St. Thomas, and Viterbo University, La Crosse. At his beloved University of Wisconsin alma mater, he served 17 years on the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), chairing many sub-committees, and was a Director and Chairman of the Morgridge Institute for Research. Many awards and accolades received include honorary Doctor of Science Degrees from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and the South Dakota School of Mines, recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Coya Knutson Humanitarian Award for his support of students and their educational achievements, and the 2015 Viterbo University Pope John XXIII Award for Distinguished Service.
He is survived by his loving wife, Sally (Gautsch) of 62 years (Ernie and Sally are natives of Arcadia, WI and are graduates of Arcadia High School). He is also survived by children: Scott (Liz), Stephanie Luetkehans, Jennifer Micek and Mollie (Jeff) Preston; 10 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and sister, Phyllis (Greg) Ziegeweid.
Ernie was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Maggie; sister, Florence Giemza; and brother, Dominic. Our family is forever blessed by having had such a great man in our midst. He will be sorely missed.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, services were limited to a private family memorial in Dresbach, MN. Interment was Saturday, November 7, 2020, at Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in La Crosse.
In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to: Morgridge Institute of Research, www.morgridge.org.
Huber Funeral &
Cremation Services
Excelsior, MN
952-474-9595
