Michael Frank Whelan

Michael F. Whelan, age 64 of Barnhart, MO, formerly of Cobden, passed away peacefully at Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis, MO on April 22, 2024, after a lengthy battle with cancer-related complications. He was born September 14, 1959 in Chicago, IL to James and Florence (Jones) Whelan.

As the youngest of 3 boys, Mike was raised by an aunt and uncle in Herrin, IL. He graduated from Herrin High School in 1977. Shortly after graduating, he joined the United States Navy. Over his naval career as a Damage Controlman, Mike got to see the world and was a highly decorated sailor. In 1991, he married his beloved Elizabeth, and they spent the next 33 years having all sorts of interesting adventures together. Mike retired from the Navy in 2000, after 20 years of service and went about furthering his education, graduating in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in paralegal studies from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.  He worked in the legal, financial, and security sectors until his retirement in 2019.

Mike enjoyed painting, cooking, camping, traveling, DIY projects, Cubs baseball, learning and trying new things, and his dogs.

He is survived by his loving and dedicated wife, Elizabeth, his older brother Frank, nieces Heather and Amber, and 2 step kids, Laura (Matthew) and John. He was preceded in death by his parents and his oldest brother, Thomas.

Michael will be remembered as a soft-spoken, intensely private, fiercely persistent, hardworking, loyal, kind, and generous man with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. He will be terribly missed.

Funeral services for Michael Whelan will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, April 26, 2024 at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna with Bill Littrell officiating. Interment will follow in the Cobden Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 11:00 a.m. until the service hour at 1:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Military funeral honors will be conducted at the cemetery by the Carroll P. Foster Post #3455 of the V.F.W. and the United States Navy honors team. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the ASPCA. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.