Michael Whalen

MICHAEL WHALEN

Anamosa

Michael John Whalen died early Monday morning, Feb. 16, 2015, at his boyhood home outside of Anamosa on the Buffalo River Road in the presence of two of his daughters, Becky Jean Bostwick and Bridget Alice Lane.

His funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Stone City at 11

a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, the same church where he received his First Holy Communion 85 years ago. Visitation will be from 4 until 7 p.m. Monday at Goettsch Funeral Home, Anamosa. A parish vigil service will start at 3:30 p.m. and a Knights of Columbus rosary at 7 p.m. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Anamosa.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

Michael John was born April 22, 1922, to William Patrick Whalen and Vona Kathryn (Vaughan) Whalen in Towanda, Kan. In 1925, William moved the family to Anamosa to the small farm where Michael resided at the time of his death.

Michael spent his youth growing up on the farm with his older brother, John, his younger brother, Jerry, and his two sisters, Winnie and Kathryn. He had many fond memories of milking and herding cows, sometimes into the neighbors pasture! He and his brothers ran trap lines, shot and ate rabbits and squirrels and enjoyed causing mischief at school. It was a childhood poor in material trappings, but very rich in love, caring and wholesome life lessons provided by his parents.

Michael's world changed dramatically on March 21, 1937, when his father, William, succumbed to pneumonia and passed away on the same farm. Michael was only 14 and forever missed his daddy.

In May 1940, a week after graduating from high school, Michael left for Chillicothe Business College in Chillicothe, Mo. He completed several business courses and in August 1941, was offered a job by the electro-motor division of General Motors as a male stenographer.

In December of that year, while he was living in Brookfield, Ill., Michael, like many young Americans listening to the radio, heard the reports of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Anxious to join in the war effort, he enrolled in the Aviation Cadet Program.

While enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Michael completed Radio School in Sioux Falls, S.D., and then transferred to Yuma, Ariz., where he completed Air to Air and Air to Ground gunnery school. During the summer of 1944, Michael, as a radio operator/gunner on a B-24 heavy bomber, was transferred with his crew to England. As part of the 44th Bomb group, known as the Flying Eight Balls of the 14th Wing, in the 2nd Division of the 8th Air Force, they began flying missions over Europe. They continued bombing missions until the surrender by Germany in May 1945. His brother, Jerry, was still serving in the Navy in the Pacific Theater, so Michael re-enlisted and began training on B-29's in preparation for serving in the Pacific. He continued his training until the bombing on Nagasaki and Hiroshima ended the war.

He always got a smile on his face when he reminisced about his service and the soldier who came through their barracks every morning and yelled at the top of his lungs: "Get up Gals! Get Up! Out of the Sack and into the Flak!" He stated about his fellow crew members, "I have never had a closer relationship with a group of guys."

After the war, Michael attended the University of Iowa and the University of Michigan Law School at Ann Arbor through the GI bill and obtained his law degree. After passing the Iowa State Bar, Michael began the practice of law in Anamosa.

On Sept. 27, 1952, Michael married the love of his life, Mary Florence Ament, also of Anamosa, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Anamosa.

A year later, Michael moved with Mary Flo and their daughter, Annie Laurie, to Billings, Mont. He worked at the Great Western Sugar Refinery while he studied for, took and passed the Montana bar exam. In true Irish fashion he was admitted to the Montana bar on March 17, 1954.

After passing the bar, Michael established a private law office in Billings and practiced law for the next 40 years. During that time, Michael garnered a reputation as one of the top trial lawyers in the state. He could easily be distinguished on the streets of Billings wearing his pearl "Open Road" Stetson, which he rarely went without.

The Honorable Russel C. Fagg of the District court of Yellowstone County, said of Michael, "He always took the role of the underdog and would help those people who needed it most but might not be able to afford it." The Honorable Michael Moses of the 13th Judicial District for the state of Montana in Yellowstone County, who knew Michael personally, said "He was a great lawyer and a bulldog and was well respected by his peers. His two devotions were his family and the practice of law."

Michael and Mary Flo raised their 10 children in Billings, where all attended Kate Fratt Memorial grade school and all graduated from Billings Central Catholic High School. As devout Catholics, Michael and Mary Flo provided college educations for all but one of

their children at major catholic schools around the country, including Georgetown, St. Louis University, Creighton, Marquette and Boston College.

Michael was very active in his parish, St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral in Billings, where he was an usher and 4th Degree of the Knights of Columbus. He served on the Billings Central school board as president and was a trust member for years on St. Patrick's Educational Trust committee.

In 1996, he returned to the farm outside of Anamosa where he was raised. He spent his retirement working on the farm and spending time with his daughters and grandchildren who lived nearby.

On June 9, 2012, his beloved spouse, Mary Flo, passed away by his side on the farm. In addition to Mary Flo, he was preceded in death by his brothers, John and Jerry, and their spouses, Jean (Knight) Whalen and Ruth (Wassen) Whalen, respectively, and his brother-in-law, Donald Micks.

Michael is survived by his sister, Winnie Micks of Elmhurst, Ill.; his sister, Kathryn Green and her husband, Chris Green of Bella Vista, Ark.; his children, Annie Laurie (James) Coogan of Sante Fe, N.M., Veronica K. (Christopher) Schmitt of Tacoma, Wash., Bridget A. ( Dave) Lane of Williamsburg, Va., Timothy J. Whalen of Columbus, Mont., Michael P. (Diane) Whalen of Billings, Mont., Robert J. (Mary) Whalen of Billings, Mont., Jerry W. (Michele) Whalen of Truxton, N.Y., Charlotte M. ( John) Niederhauser of Stone City, Shannon R. Sullivan of Duxbury, Mass., and Becky J. (John) Bostwick of Marion; 25 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Dad, if a person's value is based on their contributions in life, yours is immeasurable. You have given your family so many things: a strong faith, a good home, morals, a sense of humor, education, incredible work ethic and most importantly, your never-ending love. We love you and will miss you.