The late Michael Vitell was from Grand Forks. Tragically, Michael passed away suddenly on Saturday after a brief battle with pneumonia. He was placed on life support and spent a week in a coma before succumbing to the illness. His death was unexpected, leaving his family struggling with grief and unforeseen expenses.
Michael’s brother-in-law, James Philipsen, shared on Facebook, "Please pray for our family. Tragically, my brother-in-law Michael Vitell passed away this last Saturday. My sister Taumi Vitell lost her husband. He was fairly healthy and way too young to go but got pneumonia, was put on life support, in a coma for a week then passed away. It all happened so fast. Unfortunately, losing a loved one comes with unexpected expenses at the worst time. Please help if you can. RIP brother."
A GoFundMe campaign was organized by Tiffany Philipsen to help ease the financial burden on Michael’s family. The fundraiser, created on June 10, 2024, has so far raised $1,885 out of its $4,000 goal through eight donations. Tiffany described the situation, stating, "Taumi, my sister, lost her husband, Michael Vitell, when he passed away suddenly on Saturday after spending several days in the ICU. She doesn’t have the resources needed for basic funeral arrangements and has already had to miss time at work to watch over him in the ICU. Any size donation would be appreciated, or just send a minimal donation to let us know you are thinking of us."
The community has shown support through various donations, including a significant contribution of $1,000 from Brent Kopp and $400 from Richard Bailey. Other donors like Andrew Vella and Jordan Bell have also contributed to the cause. The family and friends of Michael Vitell continue to grieve his loss and are seeking assistance to cover funeral costs and other related expenses.
Messages of condolence and support have poured in on social media. Reanna Dexter wrote, "So sorry to hear this. He was a good man. Sending healing prayers." Betty Wenhold also expressed her sorrow, saying, "My prayers go out to Taumi. I am so sorry for her loss."
Despite the overwhelming sadness, the community’s support through donations and kind words provides some solace to Michael Vitell’s grieving family.
Note:This post was written and edited by Eleanor Williams, based on their expertise and research. It is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. We welcome your feedback and questions on this content. Please feel free to contact us.