SGM (Ret.) Michael Francis Whalen

02/11/1952-09/08/2020

Mike was born in Buffalo, NY on February 11, 1952. He was a bit wild in high school and followed in his Father’s footsteps, joining the US Army as a Paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division. He served his country and its people with distinction and honor for almost 30 years, highly decorated and a hero in every sense of the word. He would always say he served so others did not have to do so.

He married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Linnan, on April 24, 1971, he lived his life completely devoted to her. Traveling around the world and the US in the military, Mike and Nancy raised two children, Frank and Allison. Upon retiring, Mike and Nancy settled in Georgia after living in multiple cities in eight states.

Mike believed in living his life in service to others, both in the Army and long afterwards. He was always generous and kind, and would go above and beyond to help those in need. An animal lover, he and Nancy took in pets in need and gave them good lives to live with lots of love.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Nancy; their rescued fur baby, Chloe; his loving children, Frank and his wife, Haylee, and Allison and her husband, Dan; granddaughters, Julia, Sofie, and Ava (of whom he was extraordinarily proud), a granddaughter-to-be, Daisy, who will always know of the greatness of her dearly departed grandfather; and nephew, Brian and his wife, Lisa.

Mike Whalen lived a great life and raised the bar by always leading by example. He was welcomed home by his Heavenly Father on September 8, 2020, a good and faithful servant to the Lord. He will be greatly missed by all who were privileged to know him, leaving this world a far better place than he found it.