Mike Thell has been named the 2018 Knight of the Year for St. Joseph Council 7057. According to the recent announcement, Thell is a “steadfast member of the Father Werner Council and daily lives out the Knights of Columbus tenets of Unity, Charity, Fraternity and Patriotism.”
Thell has been a member for 15 years.
Janelle and Mike have three children who attended the St. Joseph Lab School. The Thells were involved in school activities, especially fundraising efforts. Their children moved on to Cathedral High School where Janelle and Mike continued volunteering and stayed active in their children’s lives.
Mike has been an usher for many years and he and Janelle are greeters before Mass. Mike helps at the Fourth of July parish festival by setting up and taking down equipment. Mike has supported the council by working at KC Breakfasts along with his family. For three years, he was a dining room coordinator, which involves setting up the tables for the breakfasts, serving coffee, keeping the tables clean and resetting the tables so other diners can have a seat.
Two years ago, Thell took on the responsibility of co-chairing the monthly breakfasts. In this position he recruits KC members to work the various jobs at the breakfast and looks for ways to make the breakfasts more successful. Often Mike helps to make the caramel rolls Saturday afternoon.
Mike was instrumental in organizing a breakfast to raise money to support a school in Puerto Rico that is run by the Sisters of St. Benedict and was affected by the hurricane, and also organized a specific breakfast to raise money for All Saints Academy, St. Joseph Campus.
Mike has been a St. Joseph Jaycee member for seven years and as such helped with the Children’s Easter Party and the Youth Punt, Kick and Pass Competition. He also participated with the Adopt-A-Highway cleanup for several years as a Jaycee member.

Knights of Columbus members Janelle Thell; Jeff Stang, grand knight; and Mike Thell. Mike was recently named KofC Knight of the Year.