Michael Lee Selch

Michael Selch, 78 of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away on March 2, 2021.

“Your talent is God’s gift to you.  What you do with it is your gift back to God.”  -Leo Buscaglia

Mike Selch was a man of many talents, talents that showcased his love for family, love for God, love for Country, love for learning, and passing it all on to the rest of us.  Taped to his laptop is a quick reminder:  “Wherever you commit yourself, make it to your purpose to aid the whole project to success.  Stand with a balance.  It is not right to go so far out of your way for one that you fail to fulfill your commitment to another."

His first and most important commitment came to a young 13-year-old Mike when he met the love of his life, Betty Perkins.  A sweet farm boy set eyes on her pair of yellow shoes, and the rest was history.  Mike and Betty were married, and welcomed 3 baby girls:  Joanie, Laura, and Kathyrn, and grieved the loss of a sweet baby boy, their 4th child.  In 1969, the family moved to what we now call “the Ponderosa,” a beautiful, white farmhouse on a hill in North Salem, Indiana- where Mike eventually served on the town board.  The Ponderosa played host to many dinner parties, family holidays, and smaller, more intimate moments over the 51 years it housed the Selch family.  In June of 2020, Mike and Betty moved to Indianapolis to be closer to their 3 girls, 8 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

He also committed to many talents and hobbies throughout his life.  Everyone who knew him has heard a story about his time working for Firestone Racing and Aldo Andretti Firestone High Performance Center & Associated Sales.  Always Mr. Fix-It, Mike used his woodworking, carpentry, and electrician talents to tend to maintenance and the grounds of Tri-West Hendricks Schools for over 10 years, build sets for Hendricks Civic Theatre, and in the creation of several of his own businesses including “Mike’s Fix It Shop” and “Many Mansions.”

He was a man of strong faith, who committed to over 10 years of Lay Witness mission work with Betty by his side.  Mike spent time as the church maintenance director, and eventually obtained his Pastoral License to officiate weddings, a pleasure he was able to perform for 2 of his granddaughters in recent years.  Throughout his life, Mike ministered to a countless number of people, including mentoring at the Boys School, teaching Sunday School classes, leading Bible studies, and through the book he authored, “Finding Peace About Death.” His family invites you with love to listen to Mike’s testimony in his own words.  You can watch Mike’s interview on WYTV7 Shine Your Light: Learning to Find Peace About Death, by visiting here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR8kkhJWsW0 .

Mike is preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Virginia (Bryan) Selch.  He is survived by his wife of 61 years and the love of his life, Betty Selch; his daughters, Joanie Jones, Laura (husband Tony) Wiles, and Kathy Randolph; his eight grandchildren; and his 14 great-grandchildren.

Friends and family will gather at Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home in Pittsboro, Indiana on Sunday, March 7, 2021 from 2 pm until the time of the Celebration of Life Service at 4 pm.

All are encouraged to share thoughts, prayers, and memories with Mike's family on his memorial page found on the funeral home's website, www.ericmdbellfuneralhome.com .