Mr. Michael J. Mealey, 56, of LaHarpe, Illinois passed away Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 1:22 A.M. at the Great River Hospice House in West Burlington, Iowa.

He was born on September 20, 1954 in Red Oak, Iowa, the son of I.N. and Joan Kimler Mealey.

Mike was a 1973 graduate of LaHarpe High School. He attended Spoon River College in Canton, Illinois for 2 years and graduated from Western Illinois University in Macomb in1977.
He farmed in the LaHarpe area for many years and later worked for the Keokuk Junction Railroad and the Iowa Army Ammunitions Plant. He then worked for the Burlington Junction Railroad as a switch foreman/ locomotive engineer at both their Burlington, IA and Quincy, IL locations. For the past 2 years he worked as a traveling locomotive mechanic. He had served on the LaHarpe Fire Department and was a LaHarpe Township Trustee. He was also a member and past Master of the LaHarpe Masonic Lodge #195. He was an avid golfer and member of the Twin Oaks Golf and Country Club in Blandinsville, Illinois.

He is survived by one son, Blake Mealey of LaHarpe, two sisters, Mary J. (Jim) Yonker of Poplar Grove, Illinois and Leigh Ann (Curt) Gregory of Vernon Hills, Illinois, two nephews, Scott (Amy) Finch of Huntley, Illinois and Todd Finch of Lakemoor, Illinois and three great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, November 21, 2010 at the LaHarpe Union Church with Rev. Bruce Goettsche officiating. Burial will be in the LaHarpe Cemetery. Friends may call after 2:00 P.M. Saturday at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in LaHarpe where the family will meet with friends from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. Saturday. A memorial fund has been established for the LaHarpe Masonic Lodge or the LaHarpe Fire Department.

To read a transcript of the funeral service click HERE .