Michael J. Kargl, 68, of Rock Island, died at home on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2014 surrounded by his loving family, after battling pancreatic cancer for ten months.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 9:30 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Rock Island. Burial will be at the National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, where military honors will be presented. Visitation is 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Rock Island, where a rosary will be recited at 3:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Research Foundation or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Michael was born Aug. 9, 1946 in Rock Island, a son of Anthony M. "Tim" and Ruth E. Miller Kargl. He married Cecilia M. Klauer on Aug. 29, 1970 in Rock Island.

Mike graduated from Alleman High School, Rock Island. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a letter carrier with the Rock Island Post Office and retired in 2001 after 32 years of service. Mike later worked part-time for Colman's Florist, Rock Island.

Mike was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Rock Island and was a member of its choir for 45 years and also active in the Holy Name Society.

In the 1980's, Mike was instrumental in the formation of the Mississippi Valley Chapter of the American Rose Society, showing his award winning roses throughout the Midwest. His life-long love of trains led to model railroading and being an active member of the group that tried to restore the Rock Island Lines depot. He felt his greatest accomplishment was his children and grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Cecilia; children, Sara Johnson, Rock Island, Jennifer Kargl, Rock Island, Deborah (James) Smith, Davenport, Robert (Katy) Kargl, Rock Island, and Adam Kargl, Rock Island; grandchildren, Sydney, Tatum, Nathan, Samuel, Olivia, Judah and Emily; sisters, Peggy (Del) Banowetz, of Mississippi and Gloria Gripp, Rock Island; sister-in-law, Sharon Kargl, Rock Island; and his dog, Titus. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Anthony "Tim" Kargl II; and infant brother, Theodore.

Thank you to Dr. Constantinou and his staff for their knowledge and compassion and to UnityPoint Hospice, especially Linda Cheek for the wonderful care provided to Mike and his family.

Online condolences may be left at wheelanpressly.com.