Dennis N. Mihelich

Dennis N. Mihelich, Ph.D., age 83, was born in Cleveland, OH, on May 19, 1941. He died peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, February 3, 2025.

 Dennis graduated from Kent State University with his bachelor’s in 1966. He received his Master’s degree (1968) and Doctorate (1972) from Case Western Reserve in Cleveland. Dennis moved to Omaha in 1975 where he was a history professor at Creighton University for 28 years. Upon retirement from teaching, Dennis served as the University historian for five years and wrote the book “The History of Creighton University” for their 125th anniversary. 

 In life, Dennis would never brag about himself, so his family would like to do so now. He authored numerous articles, two that received the James L. Sellers Memorial Award for Outstanding Original Content for Nebraska History (1980 and 1990). Some of his other book titles include “The First Telegraph Line Across the Continent: Charles Brown's 1861 Diary” with James E Potter (2011); “Ribbon of Destruction: The 1913 Douglas County Tornado” (2013); “The Omaha Country Club, 1899-2017” (2017); and “M’s Pub: An Omaha Icon” (2018).

 Among Mihelich’s career highlights include serving on the boards of the Douglas County Historical Society and the Nebraska State Historical Society, where he briefly served as interim director. In 1982 he was honored to be chosen for post-doctoral studies at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY. He served on the committee for the Omaha Business Man’s Hall of Fame, as well as being appointed by Governor Heineman to serve on the Nebraska Hall of Fame selection committee. He also traveled the state lecturing on a variety of topics for Humanities Nebraska, where he sought the best restaurant in every small town across the state. We often told him that should be the subject of his next book. In 2012, he was recognized by the Nebraska State Historical Society and honored with the Addison E. Sheldon Memorial Award for lifetime achievement in the interpretation and preservation of Nebraska history. He can still be seen late nights on the NETV production of “If These Walls Could Speak” (1994). He said often, “I’ve been filling dead airtime for years.” 

 Dennis was the original and first gym rat anyone ever knew. He spent three hours exercising, five days a week since the mid 70s. His landscaping and gardening skills were the envy of all in the Westgate neighborhood. When he questioned why he got up so early, even when he was off in the summers, a colleague replied, “You probably hear a weed growing.” After retirement, he took up fishing with great enthusiasm, and his “go bag” of snacks was ready to at a moment’s notice. Dennis was a life-long fan of Cleveland sports -- never missing an opening day of baseball, even if it meant skipping school -- and in Omaha was a loyal member of the Cleveland Browns Backers club. But his true passion was always golf. His happiest summers were the ones when he golfed five days a week – in leagues, with his Friday foursome of forty years, on golf trips, and Sunday evenings with the couples friends. We mourn him down here, but in heaven he’s been hitting them long and straight, playing 36 holes a day. 

 Mihelich is preceded in death by his mother Helen and stepfather Frank, and brothers Thomas and Robert. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years Joanne and daughter Heidi; Sister-in-Law Pamela (Stan) Cwalinski; Brother-in-Law Jack (Terrie) Caiazza; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins In Ohio; as well as a large network of friends and chosen family in Omaha.

 A Celebration of Life is being planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Douglas County Historical Society (https://douglascohistory.org), St. Jude Children’s Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/) or Stephen Center Omaha (https://stephencenter.org/).