Most people who search for Noel J. Mickelson find her name attached to one fact: she was the first wife of actor John Amos. But reducing her to that single line misses the far more interesting woman behind it — a painter, a carpenter, a competitive rider, and a mother who quietly shaped two successful creative careers while staying almost entirely out of the public eye.
This article pulls together everything publicly known about Noel J. Mickelson: her Minnesota upbringing, her years at Colorado State University, her unusual career choices for a woman of her generation, her historic marriage during the civil rights era, and the private life she led long after Hollywood stopped paying attention.
Noel J. Mickelson — Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Noel Jean Mickelson |
| Known As | Noel J. Mickelson |
| Born | August 22, 1943 (widely reported) |
| Birthplace | Jackson County, Minnesota, USA |
| Died | December 2016 (age 72) |
| Heritage | Ashkenazi Jewish and Danish ancestry (reported) |
| Education | Colorado State University (Fine Arts) |
| Professions | Artist, carpenter, architect/designer, equestrian |
| Spouse | John Amos (married 1965, divorced 1975) |
| Children | Shannon Amos and K.C. Amos |
| Estimated Net Worth | $300,000–$500,000 (unverified estimate) |
Early Life and Family Background
Birth and Childhood in Jackson County, Minnesota
Noel Jean Mickelson was born on August 22, 1943, in Jackson County, Minnesota, a rural farming region where wide-open land and small-town life defined her earliest years.
Her Parents and Upbringing
Her parents, Wilbur B. Mickelson and Dorothy J. Tims, raised her to value hard work, curiosity, and self-reliance — traits that would define nearly every chapter of her adult life.
Ashkenazi Jewish and Danish Heritage
Noel’s background combined Ashkenazi Jewish and Danish roots. That mixed cultural heritage is frequently cited as an early influence on her artistic sensibility and her broad-minded approach to the world.
A Childhood Shaped by Nature and Animals
Growing up around farmland gave Noel constant exposure to animals, particularly horses, and instilled the patience and discipline that later defined her equestrian career. It was also where her hands-on creativity first surfaced — she enjoyed building and making things well before she ever set foot in an art classroom.
Education at Colorado State University
Studying Fine Arts
Noel enrolled at Colorado State University to study fine arts, immersing herself in painting, design, and the broader world of artistic expression. Her college years reinforced a belief that would guide her whole life: that women could pursue unconventional paths regardless of what society expected of them.
How She Met John Amos on Campus
It was at Colorado State University that Noel met John Amos, then a sociology student and football player. What began as a college friendship developed into a relationship neither of them could have predicted would later intersect with a pivotal chapter of American history.
Career and Creative Life
Noel Mickelson the Artist — Painting and Abstract Work
Noel explored painting styles ranging from abstract to surreal, often channeling her personal experiences, cultural background, and love of nature into her work. She was never a widely exhibited public artist, but creativity remained central to her identity throughout her life.
Noel Mickelson the Carpenter — Breaking Gender Norms
In the 1960s and ’70s, carpentry was an almost exclusively male trade. Noel disregarded that convention entirely, building furniture and household pieces with her own hands and treating woodworking as another outlet for problem-solving and craftsmanship.
Noel Mickelson the Architect and Designer
Some accounts also credit Noel with architectural and design interests — an extension of her hands-on, structural approach to creativity that went beyond canvas and paint into the physical spaces people live in.
Noel Mickelson the Equestrian — Horse Shows and Riding
Horses were a lifelong passion. Noel reportedly competed in horse shows and reached advanced levels of equestrian skill, a pursuit that demanded the same discipline and independence she brought to every other part of her life.
Environmental and Nature Interests
Alongside her artistic and equestrian pursuits, Noel maintained a strong connection to the natural world, an interest some accounts describe as an early form of environmental awareness that carried through to how she raised her children.
Marriage to John Amos
Their Relationship and Courtship
Noel and John’s college friendship grew into a serious relationship built on mutual respect — notable in itself, given that John Amos was Black with Ghanaian ancestry, and Noel was white, at a time when interracial relationships drew open hostility in much of the country.
Wedding in 1965
The couple married in 1965.
An Interracial Marriage Before Loving v. Virginia
Their marriage predated the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 1967 ruling in Loving v. Virginia, which struck down state laws banning interracial marriage. At the time Noel and John married, roughly 16 U.S. states still enforced anti-miscegenation laws.
Life During the Civil Rights Era
Marrying across racial lines during the civil rights movement meant the couple’s relationship existed within, and was shaped by, one of the most turbulent periods in American social history.
Challenges They Faced as an Interracial Couple
The family experienced real hostility. Their daughter Shannon has recounted a frightening incident in which a racist individual confronted her father while armed. Despite this, Noel and John focused on building a stable, supportive home rather than public activism.
Children of Noel J. Mickelson and John Amos
Shannon Amos — Producer, Entrepreneur, and Wellness Travel Founder
Born in 1966, Shannon Amos built a career in entertainment, working on productions and marketing campaigns connected to BET, MTV, and film promotions including I Am Legend and Blood Diamond. In 2020, she pivoted toward wellness and founded the travel company Sumanah.
K.C. Amos — Filmmaker, Director, and Producer
Born in 1970, Kelly Christopher “K.C.” Amos pursued filmmaking and production. In 1996, he directed James McMurtry’s music video “Where You Hide the Body,” which earned Grammy recognition, and he later worked on projects including The Watermelon Heist and collaborations with artists such as Lil Wayne and Rick Ross.
How Noel Shaped Her Children’s Creative Paths
Both children have credited their creative instincts to the environment their mother built at home — one that encouraged imagination, independence, and self-expression over conformity.
Divorce and Life After John Amos
Their 1975 Separation
After roughly a decade of marriage, Noel and John divorced in 1975. The specific reasons were never made public.
Life Away from the Spotlight
Following the divorce, as John Amos’ acting career grew through Good Times, Roots, and later Coming to America, Noel deliberately stepped back from public life, choosing privacy over visibility.
Maintaining a Relationship With Her Children
Even after the marriage ended, Noel remained a consistent presence in Shannon and K.C.’s lives, continuing to influence their creative development well into adulthood.
Later Years, Health Struggles, and Death
Reported Health Complications
According to family accounts, Noel experienced serious complications following surgery later in life, reportedly leaving her blind and quadriplegic. These details have not been confirmed through official public records.
Noel J. Mickelson’s Death in 2016
Noel passed away in December 2016 at the age of 72, surrounded by family.
Shannon Amos’ Tribute — Traveling the World With Her Mother’s Ashes
Before Noel died, Shannon asked her if she had any regrets. Noel said she wished she had traveled more. Honoring that wish, Shannon carried her mother’s ashes across Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Bali, Cambodia, Thailand, and the Philippines — turning grief into a tribute to her mother’s adventurous spirit.
Noel J. Mickelson’s Net Worth
No official financial records exist for Noel Mickelson. Various online estimates place her net worth between $300,000 and $500,000, though this figure remains unverified.
Noel J. Mickelson’s Legacy
Remembered Beyond Being “John Amos’ First Wife”
Noel’s identity was never confined to her marriage. She was a painter, a builder, a rider, and a woman who refused to let 1960s-era expectations dictate her choices.
Her Influence on Shannon and K.C. Amos
Both of her children built careers rooted in storytelling and creative expression — a direct extension of the values she instilled at home.
A Symbol of Courage During the Civil Rights Era
Her marriage to John Amos, entered into before interracial unions were legally protected nationwide, stands as a quiet but meaningful part of America’s civil rights history.
Noel J. Mickelson vs. John Amos — Two Different Paths, One Shared Legacy
John Amos found fame in front of the camera, becoming one of television’s most recognizable actors. Noel found fulfillment behind the scenes — in her art studio, her workshop, and the stables. Their differing paths ultimately converged in the two children they raised, both of whom now work in creative industries that echo each parent’s influence.
Timeline of Noel J. Mickelson’s Life
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1943 | Born in Jackson County, Minnesota |
| — | Attends Colorado State University; studies fine arts |
| — | Meets John Amos on campus |
| 1965 | Marries John Amos |
| 1966 | Daughter Shannon Amos born |
| 1970 | Son K.C. Amos born |
| 1967 | Loving v. Virginia legalizes interracial marriage nationwide |
| 1975 | Divorces John Amos |
| 2016 | Passes away in December, age 72 |
Conclusion
Noel J. Mickelson’s life resists the footnote status often assigned to her. She was a woman who built furniture, competed on horseback, painted from the heart, and raised two children who carried her creative spirit into their own careers — all while living through, and quietly defying, one of the most divisive periods in American history. Her story is a reminder that legacy isn’t always loud; sometimes it’s built one brushstroke, one board, and one ride at a time.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Noel J. Mickelson?
Noel J. Mickelson was an American artist, carpenter, and equestrian best known as the first wife of actor John Amos and mother of Shannon and K.C. Amos.
When did Noel J. Mickelson marry John Amos?
They married in 1965, two years before Loving v. Virginia legalized interracial marriage nationwide.
Why was their marriage historically significant?
It took place while roughly 16 states still had laws banning interracial marriage, making it a personal reflection of the broader civil rights struggle.
How many children did Noel J. Mickelson have?
Two: daughter Shannon Amos (born 1966) and son K.C. Amos (born 1970).
What was Noel J. Mickelson’s profession?
She worked as an artist, carpenter, designer, and competitive equestrian.
When and how did Noel J. Mickelson die?
She died in December 2016 at age 72, after reportedly facing serious health complications in her final years.
What was Noel J. Mickelson’s net worth?
Estimates place it between $300,000 and $500,000, though no official figures have been confirmed.
Who are Noel J. Mickelson’s children today?
Shannon Amos runs the wellness travel company Sumanah; K.C. Amos works as a filmmaker, director, and producer.
