Michael A. "Hiko" Simmons

Michael A. "Hiko" Simmons left this earth on June 27, 2024, to join his daughter Jessica in heaven. A funeral service will be held at 7 PM on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at the Furlong Funeral Chapel, Galena, where friends may call after 4 PM until the time of service. A celebration of life will follow on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at Rec Park from Noon to 5 PM. Mike was born January 7, 1962, in Dubuque, IA, the son of Catherine "Rose" Zeal and Ralph "Hiko" Simmons. He graduated from Galena High School in 1980. He started his lifelong working career for Leo Oldenburg in 1978 at Leo's Super Value. He worked for Ron Sproule Oil Company for 18 years and operated his own lawn care and snowplowing business for 18 years. He was employed by the City of Galena as the Fire Chief and Fire Inspector from 2003 to 2013. Mike sold the business in 2013 to pursue a Fire Science degree from Northeast Iowa Community College in Peosta, IA. The hard work of receiving the degree paid off when he was hired as a building inspector for the City of Marshall, MN. He then moved to Rochester, MN, in 2015, where he was hired as a building inspector. He remained there for six years until 2021 before returning to Galena to be closer to his family. Mike was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer along with lymphoma in 2018. He fought a long and hard battle for the last six years. Many considered him a workaholic but did so to support his family. He enjoyed working, gardening, motorcycle rides, hunting, fishing, and a cold beer or a Captain and Coke with family and friends. He enjoyed watching the Green Bay Packers and attended many games with friends. He was an avid tickler to his grandchildren. He was an active member of the Galena Fire Department for 30 years and a social member for 11 years. He also served as a member of the Illinois Fire Association Board for 13 years and, most recently, was the Emergency Management Coordinator for Jo Daviess County for almost three years. He was a member of the Galena Jaycees and the Galena Elks Lodge. He coached his kids through AYSO soccer for many years and the Galena High School soccer team for two years. He enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren play sports. He married Connie Copeland on October 6, 1984, and they had three beautiful children together: Emily, Nathan, and Jessica. Connie and Mike spent most of their time caring for their angel Jessica to meet her needs. Jessica was called to be with God on May 4, 1994. On August 22, 2009, he married Sue (Neuhaus) Simmons and added to his family a daughter, Amanda, and a son, Travis. He is survived by his wife Sue, along with daughters Emily (fiancé, Noah Ottenhausen) and Amanda (Joe Link), sons Nathan (fiancée, Paige Scharpf) and Travis (Brittany) Coffman. Eleven grandchildren - Nevaeh, Ella, and Noelle Ottenhausen; Jackson, Nolan, and Kaden Link; Weston and Natalie Coffman; and Ridley, Brayson, and Rylan Simmons along with a sister, Margo Dworak, brother, Tim Simmons (Lori) and brother-in-law Mike McClain. In-laws are Sue's mother and father, Don and Eunice Neuhaus; Sue's brothers - Dan, Mark, Tim, and Paul- and Sue's sister, Penny (Ted McLaughlin). He was preceded in death by his daughter Jessica, his parents, his sister Tania McClain, his brother-in-law Jim Neuhaus, and an angel grandchild -Aurora Coffman. Instead of flowers, donations may be sent to the Mayo Clinic Oncology Department in Rochester, MN, or the Mike Simmons Fire Service Training Fund set up at Apple River State Bank. Online condolences may be left at www.furlongfuneralchapel.com