Obituary: Walter Mihm, 87, Ran Restaurants and Ferry Boats

Walter "Pop" Mihm, 87, formerly of Monmouth Beach died peacefully on March 14, 2013 at Care One at King James after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's.

He was born in Newark, NJ to G. Henry and Bertha Lenoir Mihm.

Mr. Mihm racked up a lot of titles in his years on Earth: businessman, entrepreneur, tug-boat owner, ferry-boat operator, builder, high school dropout and --above all-- grandfather, father and husband.

Despite getting kicked out of high school, Mr. Mihm went on to make a name for himself and help reshape part of the Jersey Shore with his array of businesses.

It all started back in the 1960's when Mr. Mihm built and opened the Channel Club Marina, which housed the Channel Club and Haul Out restaurants. His vision also included the Channel Club Towers. The Channel Club restaurant, a private members-only club in Monmouth Beach, attracted everyone from locals to senators. Mr. Mihm could often be found in the kitchen where he oversaw dozens of staff and helped ensure each of the club's juicy steaks and plump lobsters were perfect.

Many New Jerseyans still recall, fondly, The Channel Club's Christmas buffet with ice carvings, food delicacies, Geoff Larkin as Santa and Walter's grandsons, Joseph and Jared as elves.

Mr. Mihm believed in hard work. From The Channel Club, he went on to start a tug-boat company, East Coast Tender Service, and ferry boat service that carried thousands of New Jerseyans to New York from Atlantic Highlands. His tug boats and barges played a role in expanding the Bay Bridge in Annapolis, the Ft. McHenry Tunnel in Baltimore and an array of other infrastructure projects along the East Coast.

He also ran an array of restaurants including Wally's (Eatontown), Old Orchard Inn (Eatontown), Waterfront Café (Sea Bright), Pirate's Cove (Belford) and Walter Mihm's Steakhouse (Middletown, with Atlantic Highlands address).

He was a communicant of Mary Mother of God RC Church, Middletown and a former longtime communicant of Church of the Precious Blood in Monmouth Beach. Walter was a former chief of Monmouth Beach Fire Dept. in the 1960's and an exempt member of the fire department.

He was predeceased by his parents, brother, C. Henry Mihm and former wife, Doris Aumack Mihm. Mr. Mihm is survived by his wife of 27 years, Stanis Bobowicz Mihm, his children, Gary Mihm of Monmouth Beach and Janet Kneisly and husband Thomas of Gambrills, MD, four grandchildren;Garrett and Devon Mihm of Monmouth Beach, Jared A. Favole and wife Johanna of Annapolis, MD., and Joseph Favole-Mihm of Denton, NE, brother George V. Mihm of West Palm Beach, FL and his sister-in-law, Dorothy E. Bobowicz of Melbourne, FL, his devoted friends, Mode and Vidal and his best pets, Trashcan, Mr. B and Bubbles.

Visitation was held on Sunday, March 17th from 2-4 & 7-9pm at the John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Avenue, Red Bank.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday, March 18th 10:30 am at St. Mary's Chapel, 26 Leonardville Rd., Middletown. Interment will follow at Woodbine Cemetery, Oceanport.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Walter's name to the charity of your choice.

Please visit Walter's memorial website available at www.johnedayfuneralhome.com.