Michael ‘Mike’ Hayes

Michael A. “Mike” Hayes, 71, Loyal, peacefully passed away at his home on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, surrounded by his family. A memorial service was held at 11 a.m., on Tuesday, Nov. 23, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Loyal, with Rev. Dan Zimmerman officiating.

Michael Anthony Hayes was born on July 15, 1950, in Quincy, Ill., the son of Don Burgeous and Edna Muriel “Mert” (nee Wood) Hayes. He was raised in Bettendorf, Iowa, and graduated from Bettendorf High School in 1968. After high school, Mike started a 4-year machining apprenticeship with ALCOA, in Bettendorf. He was united in marriage to Diana Lynn Cassatt on Sept. 26, 1970, in Davenport, Iowa. In 1980, he left ALCOA and moved to Loyal, where he opened J& M Machine with Jerry Locknane. The business closed in 1992, and Mike opened Hayes Machine, which he operated until retiring in December 2020. Mike was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Over the years, he served his communities in many capacities, including as a volunteer fireman at ALCOA and for the City of Loyal. He coached girls softball in various cities, he was a Boy Scout Leader in Loyal, and earned Life rank, was a former Loyal Jaycees member, and served on the Wisconsin Conservation Congress and the Loyal City Council. He was on the Loyal Car Show committee, volunteered for the Loyal Corn Fest (where he was the “Corn Go-Getter” and “Parking Bitch” for the tractor pull), and many other community events too numerous to remember. He had many interests, but especially loved car racing, fishing, hunting, camping, horseshoes, softball, reading, and NOT mowing the grass. He has been told he was a social butterfly, and was still a Hawkeye fan. He was the guy in the kilt only wearing one drop of perfume under it.

Mike will be dearly missed by his wife of 51 years, Diana, of Loyal; two sons: Samuel (Jackie) Hayes of Dorchester, and Stewart Hayes of Madison; five grandchildren: Sierra (Jake) Olson, Samantha (Kyle Roth) Hayes, Emily Hayes, Tucker Hayes, and Alexis Hayes; one great-grandson: Jameson John Olson; five nieces; seven nephews; and other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Patrick Hayes; and one sister, Melissa Hayes.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be given to the Loyal Public Library in Mike’s name.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com. Cuddie Funeral Home of Loyal is assisting the family with arrangements.

PAID OBITUARY 113700