William Michael “Mike” Hanley
William M. “Mike” Hanley passed away peacefully at home on February 23, 2023 at the age of 70. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri on 2/8/1953. Predeceased by his parents, William and Barbara (Ginder) Hanley. William is survive by his loving wife, Kathryn (Harris) Hanley.
Lovingly remembered by his sons Brian (Alicia) Hanley, James (Sunny) Hanley. His stepson Daniel (Jolene) Scott, and sisters-in-law Julie Harris, Jill Schmidt, Diana Harris and brother-in-law Bill Harris. His grandchildren Landon, Addison, Ocean, Joshua, Joseph, and Jason, as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and many loving friends.
Mike graduated from Bayless Highschool in 1971. Mike was a police officer for Olivette Police Department for the first half of his career. He earned a bachelors and masters degree in business from Lindenwood University and worked in finance, computers, and human resources before his retirement.
A service for Mike will be held at 2135 Chouteau Avenue at St. Louis Cremation on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 from 2PM-5PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to New Life Evangelistic Center or The Backstoppers, INC.
Mike was always such a good friend to me and mentor, protector as a young police officer, and we enjoyed each other’s company.. He meant the world to me.. May you rest in peace, My Friend.
I have been thinking of you all day, Kathryn. The radiance of your love together has been such a shining example to us all. I love you so much and am praying for you.
You are on my heart and in my prayers, Kathy. Mike was a kind hearted man, considerate and caring. I always respected the man he was, the police officer he was and his love for you and his family was clearly seen in the joy he expressed. Steve and I are praying for your loss and broken hearts.
Mike and I have been friends since the 6th grade. When Mike’s mother was in a nursing home my father was also in a nursing home. We spoke often about the quality of life our parent was living. I did not have the medical knowledge which would have allowed me to take my father home and care for him myself. Mike and his family were blessed to have Cathy’s knowledge and expertise to allow his mother to return home where the two of them were able to provide around the clock care but most importantly provide the love and caring it takes to provide that personal care. No nursing home can do what Mike and Cathy were able to do for his mother. I was with Mike for the final months of his life and I willingly helped his wife Cathy take care of him. I held him in positions which allowed her to keep him clean. We took turns feeding him and giving him water and medicine by mixing with water and using a syringe to slowly pump the medicine he needed into his mouth. We had to go very slowly to avoid him spitting up the medicine. That is is the care Mike and Cathy provided for his mother. My own mother lasted 2 days in hospice care. Mike’s mom lasted 7 weeks. Mike ‘s mother and my mother were the same age and very private women. Instead of forcing total strangers male and female to clean up his mother he and Cathy provided that personal and private care. Cathy and I provided that care for Mike I was the labor she was the brains. It wasn’t easy to do or to watch my friend in that condition but we did our best for him. Mike’s siblings are now bad mouthing his wife in print in the four months of his self requested hospice care he never got so much as a Hi from any sibling. You want to know what love is? Put you entire life on hold and wipe clean up your spouse’s bodily fluids for 7 weeks. Or three months take a leave of absence for 90days to do it. I was there for my friend when he made the sacrifice to take care of his mother. I was there when he told me of his siblings ignoring him in the beginning he was hurt. He spoke to me often about it until he just accepted it. Mike cared deeply for his family moving close to be by his son’s. Moving back to St Louis to take care of his mom. He cared for so many friends and they cared for him. His son’s and his friends were there because they wanted to. His siblings and some nieces and nephews made no attempt to stay in touch with Mike for years. You missed all of his final years, you missed a very good friend and brother by your choice. We his friends were lucky enough to benefit from knowing him for all of those years. We have memories of those years we can recall those memories we are fortunate to have them