Michael K. West

Michael K. West, 59, a resident of LeClaire, Iowa died on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 surrounded by his beloved family after a 6 ½ year courageous battle with cancer.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, August 24, 2009 at Our Lady of the River Catholic Church, LeClaire, Iowa where he was a member. Burial will be at the Rock Island National Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. Sunday at the McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf, Iowa. Memorials may be made to the family.
He was born January 2, 1950 in St. Catherine, Missouri, the son of Robert & Mary (McHale) West and was a graduate of Pleasant Valley High School.
Mike served in the U. S. Army during the Viet Nam Era and was honorably discharged as a Specialist Fourth Class in 1972.
On February 2, 1974, he was united in marriage to Deborah A. Emery in Bettendorf.
Mike was a member of the Teamster’s Union Local 371 and drove for Yellow Freight and the former All-American Freight Company, retiring in 2003 after 28 years of service.
He was devoted to his family, enjoyed playing golf (where he constantly met new friends) and loved to travel. Mike was an adventurous person who was an avid wind surfer, loved boating, sailing and enjoying what Mother Nature had to offer in the great outdoors.
Those left to honor his memory include his beloved wife, Deb; his sons & daughters-in-law, Neil & Tammy West of LeClaire and Ryan & Lisa West of Bettendorf; his grandsons, Koby & Kyler West; his mother, Mary West of LeClaire; his brothers & sisters-in-law, Bob & Sheryn West of LeClaire, John & Peggy West of Clinton, Iowa and Jeff & Stacy West of Pleasant Valley, Iowa; and his sister-in-love, Nancy Tompkins of Pleasant Valley.
Mike was preceded in death by his father and by his nephew, Jason West.