Isabel (Seminario) Michiels

May 17, 1924 - October 7, 2023

Santa Rosa - Long-Time Antelope Valley Resident Dies at 99 Isabel Michiels arrived in the Antelope Valley in 1924 just a few months after birth. She was the eldest daughter of Frank and Severina (Gorrindo) Seminario. Frank and Severina were among early immigrant ranchers that settled in the Antelope Valley to grow alfalfa on the Westside. Isabel's gregarious and proudly Basque parents delayed bringing her to the ranch until Frank completed the adobe brick ranch house that he built at what would be the first of several Antelope Valley and Nevada ranches that he would develop over the next five decades.

Isabel attended Esperanza, Del Sur, and Rogers elementary schools before graduating from AV High School at age 16. She graduated from UCLA and subsequently taught at UCLA and University High School in West Los Angeles.

During a visit home, she met F.J. "Joe" Michiels, a pilot who was training Army Air Corps and RAF pilots at Polaris Academy at War Eagle Field (now Mira Loma). Isabel often joked that Joe first spotted her swimming in the Seminario Ranch reservoir while flying overhead, Joe often joked that Isabel was smitten when he took Isabel on her first airplane ride in a plane that he and a couple of pals built while living in Lancaster. When Joe took a job flying in China, Isabel flew to China and they were married in Shanghai where they lived and their oldest son was born.

At the conclusion of the Chinese Civil War, Isabel and Joe returned to the Antelope Valley and started farming alfalfa on their Eastside ranch. They raised 4 children (Bill, Don, Steve, and Madeline) there and were very active in youth and community affairs including but not limited to School Board, PTA, Cub Scouts, 4-H, Little League, Campfire Girls and AAUW. In 1966 they sold their ranch and moved into Lancaster, and Joe and Isabel both became popular and well-respected Realtors. After Joe's death in 1982, Isabel remained active in community and social affairs and focused upon what she most valued: Family, Friends, and Community. Isabel continued to reside in Lancaster until 2015 when she relocated to Santa Rosa CA where son Steve and his wife Patty live.

Isabel was predeceased by her parents, Frank and Severina Seminario, her younger sister Madeline (Seminario) Barr and her two oldest children, William and Donald Michiels. She is survived by her son Steven Michiels and daughter Madeline (Michiels) Reynolds plus four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Isabel's family wishes to thank her numerous cherished friends who enriched her life as well as the lives of other members of our family. They also want to thank Sutter Hospice, Arbol Assisted Living, and Dr. Lawrence Cooper, all of Santa Rosa, for their great care and caring.

In accordance with Isabel's explicit wishes, no memorial services will be held. Instead, Isabel's preference remains that everyone deepen their personal efforts in their preferred community involvements, contributions, and activities.