Howe Tax and Business Solutions

Stephanie’s Story:

Stephanie Mickem (born Fanning) is a lifelong LaGrange County native. Stephanie was born in Sturgis, Michigan and grew up in the Greenfield Mills area. She is the daughter of Warren Fanning and Debra (Fanning) Forrester, Granddaughter of Jim and Gwen (Swihart) Fanning and Halford Forrester and Alice Birmingham (Gammons).

Stephanie attended Brighton school until the merge in her 4th grade to Lima-Brighton. She attended Lakeland Jr/Sr high and was a Lakeland graduate of the class of 1995. Straight out of high school, she attended Indiana University of South Bend for a period of time, studying Criminal Justice, which had been her lifelong goal, to be a police officer.

Stephanie began her career in law enforcement in Steuben County at the Sheriff’s Office in 1997 as a confinement officer and work release officer.

In 1999, she joined the United States Marine Corp, where she served for 4 years as an aviation supply clerk where she was an accounting/budget clerk. She was honorable discharged and returned home in 2003.

In 2000, Stephanie welcomed her first child, Kelsi Cook. In 2001, her second daughter, Kerstin Cook was born and in 2007, Douglas (Dj) Leslie was born.

In 2003 she joined the Indiana Army National Guard out of Elkhart, IN and served there until 2007. While in the Army National Guard, Stephanie served 1 year in Iraq, where she was deployed for Convey Security. She was honorably discharged in 2007.

Before being deployed in June of 2004, Stephanie joined the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Office as a Reserve Deputy. She was later promoted to Deputy, Detective, Detective Sergeant, and School Resource Officer at Lakeland. She retired in 2024. While working at the Sheriff’s Office, Mickem obtained certifications in Scuba, Forensic interviewing, Computer Voice Stress Operator, Homicide investigations, and many more.

Stephanie married Michael Mickem (son of Larry and Pamela Mickem, now Swihart) in 2011. She has 3 adult children, 4 adult stepchildren, and 7 grandchildren. Mike and Stephanie reside in Howe and are avid campers at Twin Mills Campground.

In 2024, Mickem obtained a bachelor’s degree in science and accounting, with a minor in taxation law from Purdue. She is currently working toward obtaining her Certified Public Accountant License, has obtained many licenses and certifications through the Indiana Department of Revenue and she has also received certifications in payroll processing, bookkeeping, and public notary.