Michael Edward McAleer

1938 - 2025

Michael Edward McAleer, age 86, of Sequim, Washington, died on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, in his home surrounded by his family.

He was born the son of the late Edward Michael McAleer and the late Marjorie Katherine McAleer (nee Hayes) on July 31, 1938, in Anamosa, Iowa. He grew up in several Iowa towns, including Washington, Westphalia, Mason City, and Waterloo. In the summers, Mike worked on a family farm and at a family gas station as an auto mechanic. He graduated from Sacred Heart School in Waterloo in 1956. He studied at Catholic University, Iowa State, and graduated from the University of Nebraska.

Mike enlisted in the Army in 1960 as an infantryman, and later commissioned through the Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA in 1961, where he was assigned to the Field Artillery. In his first assignment in Baumholder, West Germany, he met Lynn Elizabeth Willis, an American schoolteacher from Yakima, Washington, and the two married July 6, 1963. Thus began a 60-year love affair marked by remarkable mutual admiration, devotion, love, deep friendship and shared faith. In less than seven years, seven moves, and Mike's two year-long Viet Nam tours, they welcomed five children.

Mike was a soldier's soldier and put his imprint on many a unit and tens of thousands of soldiers during the Viet Nam, Cold War, and Gulf War eras. Remarkably, he spent 14 of his 31 years in the Army in command positions, commanding eight units in all, primarily in Germany, Fort Lewis, Washington, and Viet Nam. In 1968, he was medically evacuated after receiving bullet wounds to the arm, hand, and neck. For years to come, all would recognize his gait in PT formations, parades, and field training. He spent nearly all his years in troop positions except for some key billets on the Army Staff, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. Senate, retiring as a Colonel. He earned the Purple Heart, four Bronze Stars, including one with Valor, two Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry, two Legions of Merit, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and Distinguished Service Medal.

In 1991, Mike and Lynn settled in Sequim, Washington, after 31 years of service with the Army. Mike started the RE/MAX Team McAleer business, which flourished for decades because of his competence, professionalism, and integrity. He coined and marketed the term "Sunny Sequim" and brought warmth to the community one interaction at a time.

Mike immediately jumped into local governance and applied servant leadership with local charitable organizations, subtly shaping them for the betterment of those on the Olympic Peninsula. In the 1990s, Mike started the Rotary American flag fundraiser in Sequim, and with his team, he posted over 600 American flags throughout the community on Federal holidays, a program that lives on today. He was an active member of the Sequim Sunrise Rotary, Sequim Association of Realtors Board, Sequim Chamber Board, the Clallam County Economic Development Council, Clallam County Board of Equalization, Clallam County Opportunity Fund

Board, and YMCA Board of Advisors. Mike was a key financial sponsor for the Boys and Girls Club, and Olympic Medical Center for decades. Over the past decade, he volunteered extensively with St. Vincent de Paul, providing financial assistance and counseling to those in need.

His greatest service, however, was caring unconditionally for Lynn with the greatest of patience and love during her 9 years with dementia. Lynn was always by his side in travels, meetings, and St. Vincent de Paul visits. Mike showed enormous love and character every day-and did it without fanfare.

Mike's Catholic faith was central to his being. Mike and Lynn raised their five children in the Church. He served as lector, usher, eucharistic minister, and parish council board member at each parish the McAleer family attended, including at St. Joseph Church in Sequim.

In 2023, he met Shannon Mary Burke. Their relationship renewed his spirit and brought him great joy, and they married in July 2024. It's been said that Mike was not a soloist and Shannon provided the companionship for which he longed. They had plans to have fun and travel in the RV, visiting family and friends across the country but unfortunately, his 19-year battle with cancer, unbeknown to most, had taken its toll. Shannon was a godsend to Mike as his health declined, caring for and loving him. She continues to be a blessing to his family. Mike died peacefully in his home, surrounded by Shannon and his five children. We are confident he is in heaven now with God and the angels!

Lynn Elizabeth Willis McAleer, Mike's wife of 59 years, preceded him in death in 2023. He is survived by his wife, Shannon. He is also survived by his five children, Molly Lowry (William), Robert McAleer (Kathleen); Colleen McAleer (David Gilles); Kathleen Lynch (Kevin); and E. Michael McAleer (Molly); 13 grandchildren, Ryan, Benjamin, Madeline, William, and Samuel Lowry; Catherine and Colin McAleer; Jonathan and Nicholas Ellison; Sean Lynch and Danielle Litton (Ben); and Michael and Mary McAleer; sister Mary Ellen Elbert; sisters in law, Patricia Willis and Claudia Willis.

A funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 121 East Maple Street, Sequim, Washington.

Donations may be offered to St. Vincent de Paul, P.O. Box 2114, Sequim, WA 98382; or to Volunteer Hospice Care of Clallam County, 829 East 8th Street, Port Angeles, WA 98362.

He will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery later this year.