Michele "Mickey" Marie Kyler

Michele “Mickey” Marie Kyler, age 56, passed away in her rural Crookston, MN home at 1:15 a.m., Thursday, April 11, 2024. 

Due to her father’s military service, she was born in Charleston, South Carolina on June 19^th, 1967, the daughter of Patrick and Ruby (Cuty) Baranski. The family would later move to Crookston where Mickey graduated from Central High School with the Class of 1985. Sadly, she became a quadriplegic in 1986 from injuries received in an area car accident. This coming May 3^rd would have marked her 38th quad-year. Mickey bravely moved forward with her life while attending the University of MN-Crookston, earning her degree in 1990 while majoring in Business Management and Small Business Finance.

While participating in a disability camp she met the love of her life, Dave Kyler, at Lake George, MN in 1989. Dave knew she was “the one” right away and a year later, on June 16, 1990, they were married in Crookston on the campus of the University of Minnesota.  

Mickey worked with her parents as in 1993 they started a local business known as Independence Plus, Inc.  It was a health agency designed to give elderly and disabled individuals the assistance needed to live independent lives. She began working for the company in 1994 and eventually assumed the duties and responsibilities of upper management.

Mickey loved to read her Bible, spend time in the garden, watch birds in her yard, sit in the sun taking in God’s creation, and be with her animals. She also enjoyed operating her ham radio and talking to people from different countries around the world. Mickey lived life with great enthusiasm, never letting her disability slow her down in any way, shape, or form. Her greatest passions were spreading the word of God, and being with her husband and family. 

She passionately advocated for people with disabilities and served on the board for the MN State Council of Disabilities. Mickey was also involved with the Basic Political Organization Unit in Polk County. She was treasurer of the Crookston Gun Club and the Minnesota Federation of Republican Women, and additionally served on the boards of Options, Inc. in East Grand Forks, MN and the MN 7^th Congressional District. 

Mickey is survived by David Kyler, her beloved husband of 33 years; parents, Patrick and Ruby Baranski; brother and sister-in-law, Glen and Cruz Baranski; nephews: Zane (Amanda) Baranski, Walker (Maya) Baranski, and Hunter Baranski; and her great-nephew, Liam, and great-niece, Georgia, all of Crookston; parents-in-law, Mike and Susan Kyler and brother in-law, Jake (Rebecca) Kyler of NC; sister in-law, Tricia (Scott) Bowling of MO; and nephew, Mason Kyler, and niece, Hannah Kyler of NC; together with many uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends. 

Mickey is preceded in death by her brother, Patrick Louis Baranski Jr.; and grandparents, Stanley and Victoria Baranski, and Homer and Louise Blake.

Blessed be the memory of Michele “Mickey” Marie Kyler.

The funeral service celebrating Mickey’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home, Crookston with The Rev. Vance Butler, officiating. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the funeral and will also be livestreamed by going to Mickey’s obituary page at www.stenshoelhouske.com. Burial will take place in the Oakdale Cemetery, Crookston.