Ackelson

J. Michael Ackelson, 85, of Butler, formerly of Prospect, died Saturday, March 14, 2026, at UPMC Passavant-Cranberry after an illness.

Mike was born Dec. 18, 1940, in Leechburg, Pa., and was the son of Arthur E. and Lois E. Chikar Ackelson.

Mike was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served during the Cold War Cuban missile crisis. He was a 1958 graduate of Slippery Rock High School and a 1986 graduate of Thiel College. He was a registered nurse and had worked at the VA hospital in Oakland. He also had worked at the Johns Manville Company and also was an insurance salesman. He also worked for many years at the Jay Bryan Funeral Home in Prospect and as a school bus driver for Bryan School Bus Company.

Mike was a lifelong member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Prospect and a member of the Harrisville American Legion. He was an avid race car follower and, at one time, raced. He also was an avid Pittsburgh sports fan and enjoyed reading and hunting and fishing. Mike was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley Ballew Ackelson, whom he married May 31, 1963; one son, Michael Martin (Beth) Ackelson, of Butler; one daughter, Kimberly Sue (Victor) Kubit, of Sanford, N.C.; one brother, Robert Ackelson, of California; and one sister, Naomi Ruth (Preston) Edsel, of Troy, Pa. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Lyric (Zac) Sessa, Brendan (Courtney) Ackelson, Ashley Kubit, Joshua Kubit, Zachary Kubit and Trevor (Claire Bishop) Ackelson; and by one great-grandchild, Reverie Sessa.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Penny Davis and Myra Ackelson; one brother-in-law, Bill Davis; and one niece, Karen Bader.

ACKELSON — Visitation for J. Michael Ackelson, who died Saturday, March 14, 2026, will be from 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, March 22, at JAY BRYAN FUNERAL HOME, 443 Main St., Prospect.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 23, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 143 Church St., Prospect, with the Rev. Tara Lynn officiating. Military service will also take place at the church.

Burial will follow in the Crown Hill Cemetery in Prospect.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, in Prospect, or to the Prospect Community Library.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.