Michael Roger Minnich

On January 11, 1949, in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, Donald Michael Peterson was born to Ruth and Donald Peterson. After Ruth died of cancer at a young age, Donald Michael was put into a children’s home and at the age of 10 was adopted by Robert and Lillian Minnich. That is when his name was changed to Michael Roger Minnich as we all know him. Michael lived on a ranch in northern Idaho, 40 miles from the Canadian border. He loved it there, with all the wildlife and his dog Bosco. After he graduated from Sandpoint High School, Michael worked on the railroad for a short while and then received his draft notice. His number was chosen and he served his country well. He took basic training in Ft. Lewis, Washington and then AIT in Ft. Dix, New Jersey. He was then sent to Vietnam, returning home and stationed at Ft. Carson, Colorado. Mike and Janice met at Ft. Carson in July 1979. In 1980 they moved back to Richland where he held numerous jobs before going back to work for the Department of Defense. Mike and Janice married on September 4, 1981, and made their home in Richland for a number of years. Mike joined the Richland Fire Department in 1988 and served under Chief Ricky Hobbs as Assistant Fire Chief until he moved out of the Richland area in 1994. He loved being in the department and Mike served and helped in the community. After he moved, he joined the Buckhorn Fire Department and served for one year. Mike worked 40 years for the Department of Defense and retired in December 2012. He loved fishing, hunting, telling lots and lots of stories and his grandchildren were golden to him. Mike passed away Sunday, August 23, 2026, in the Richland Care Center of Richland, Missouri having attained the age of 77 years. He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife of almost 45 years: Janice Minnich of the home; one son: Robert Minnich of St. Robert, MO; two daughters-in-law: Core and Olivia; five grandchildren: Dakota, Kalo, Kelly David, Moana and Michael James; two great grandchildren: Amelia and Oliver; several other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his son SSG (Ret) Kelly Moore, his adopted parents Robert and Lillian Minnich and his birth parents Ruth and Donald Peterson. Celebration of Life services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Friday, September 4, 2026, in the First Baptist Church of Waynesville, MO. Burial with military honors will follow in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery of Waynesville, MO. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Waynesville / St. Robert. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until time of service at 12:30 p.m. Friday, September 4, 2026, in the First Baptist Church of Waynesville, MO. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Michael Minnich and may be left at either the church the day of the service or at Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Waynesville / St. Robert.

Michael Roger Minnich

January 11, 1949 - August 23, 2026