Michael Abbas

Michael John Abbas, 66, of Marshalltown, IA, “went on ahead” on September 8, 2024, at Harmony Rehabilitation and Residential Center in Marshalltown, IA under the care of Suncrest Hospice. Visitation will be on September 12, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. No memorial service will be held. There will be a celebration of life video posted on the funeral home website. A private burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, five miles from the farm he grew up on, next to cornfields and his beloved mother.

Michael “Mike” was born on September 27, 1957, at Ellsworth Hospital in Iowa Falls, IA, the son of Constance “Connie” Ann (nee Jackson) and Leroy Abbas. His parents divorced in 1973. Pete Taylor married his mother and became his stepfather in 1975. He spent his early life on a farm seven miles north of Ackley, IA.

He was diagnosed with an intellectual disability in 1960. His mother would never place him in an institution as was common in those days. She made sure he went to various schools for support, at times driving through inclement Iowa weather to get him some education. Thanks to Norman Roegner, a family friend and Ackley School Board member, a special education program was started in the early 60’s. Mike attended elementary school in Ackley for a few years but eventually, in 1972, moved to Marshalltown at fifteen to attend Pleasant Hill (Special Needs) High School. He graduated and his mother had a party of course.

That experience presented the opportunity to work at Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center (MMSC) thanks to Bud Starn, the Supervisor of Laundry Services. Mike was chosen out of five candidate’s to be a laundry aide. His sister would argue that he ended up being much more. Early in his tenure, Mike found a wallet in the returned linens, he went to every room in the hospital until he found the person who had lost it, the man gave him five dollars. Marshalltown embraced him. MMSC was his most favorite place, he worked there for 37 years. It was his entire life. The staff were very good to him and his family was and will be forever grateful.

He loved bicycling and usually got a new bike every 2 to 3 years. He kept Marshalltown and the surrounding vicinity free of aluminum cans for most of his life in addition to making a few extra dollars. He lived independently until March of 2021 when he was moved to a CIRSI home with 2 other gentleman. His health started to decline and his safety was compromised which resulted in his move to Harmony (formally Grandview Heights) in the fall of 2023.

Mike loved John Elway, the Denver Broncos, all things football and football “cards,” TV, maps, margaritas, western shirts with snaps, western movies, John Wayne and country music. He loved loose meat sandwiches from Taylor's Maid-Rite (these will be served at the visitation), Matt and the bicycle gang from Black Tire Bikes and Perkins pancakes. He loved emergency medical services and the people that service those who were injured. He would call his sister to tell her about hearing the ambulances and going to the ER to help if he was needed.

He loved his CIRSI case management care leaders, specifically, Tina Navara, Kim Sorem, Kim Wallace, Dawn Goodman and all of the various daily caregivers that watched over him for 35 plus years. They did so much for him, enriched his life beyond measure and allowed him to be independent. Mike loved all of his friends in Colorado and was able to visit each year on his birthday to celebrate with them.

Mike knew no strangers. His sister said he was always running for Mayor. He disarmed people with unsolicited conversations and a handshake. He came to teach (us) and not be taught about being kind and a friend to all. He nurtured acceptance in a world full of judgement. He loved his mother most and now he resides in her spiritual presence, without the challenges of this life, fully embraced in a loving and peaceful place.

He leaves his sister, Vicki Abbas (Westminster, CO), many unnamed loving supporters, all the folks at MMSC specifically, Bud Starn (retired) and Laurie Springer. His adopted “family” members, Stan Brandt, Jan Brandt Radnoti, Kim Brandt, Kristina and Tom Radnoti, Janice and Carl Guldager, Steven Roskens, Cindy Roskens, Chelsea Roskens Petersen, Joanne and Bob Spencer, Deb Pearson, Barb Baker, Laura and Tom Fincken, Jan and John Troha, Anna Troha Womack, Cindy Solomon, Bob Stanley and Garrett Arneson, Laurie Armijo and her family, Nancy Dorschner, Marion and Todd Jones, Dot Colagiovanni and several paternal first cousins. Many loved him, appreciated him and shined their light on him. They will stand or are standing in the great beyond with favor.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Connie (2003) and father, Leroy (1998), his step-father Pete Taylor (2010), maternal grandparents, Ruth Jackson-Drottz (1996) and John Jackson (1956), his step-grandfather, Earle Drottz (1976), his paternal grandparents, Nancy (1983) and George M. Abbas (1948), his second mother Marge Brandt (2019) and his Colorado friends, Jeaninne Balsamo (2012), Susan Foster (2022) and Patricia Rustanius (2023).

A special thank you to Harmony Care Providers and to Suncrest Hospice, especially Maggie, Rebecca, Amy, Tanya, Cynthia and Chaplain Chad for the attentive care they provided to Mike in his last days.

No flowers please, if so desired, donations can be made in his name to CIRSI www.cirsi.org in Marshalltown. or the Gateway Women’s Shelter, https://gatewayshelter.org/get-involved/donate/in Denver in honor of his mother.