Former Judge Michael O'Malley dies following cancer battle

Former St. Clair County Circuit Court Judge Michael J. O'Malley, 61, died at his residence Oct. 11,  following a battle with cancer.

Visitation will be held Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Kassly Mortuary in Fairview Heights. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. at St. Henry's Catholic Church in Bellevile.

His obituary posted at the Kassly Mortuary website reads:

"Michael had a long and distinguished legal career, beginning in private practice with his father, and serving as both an Assistant State’s Attorney and Assistant Public Defender in St. Clair County, Illinois. He was appointed as Associate Circuit Judge, on February 1, 1985, and elected as a Circuit Judge on November 6, 1990. Judge O’Malley was honored to serve the 20th Judicial Circuit, St. Clair County, Illinois, for twenty-five years, until his retirement in 2010. After retiring from the bench, he enjoyed a return to private practice with the firm of Carey, Danis & Lowe, LLC, with whom he worked until his death. Judge O’Malley had a passion for the law and relished a deep comradery with his colleagues.

"Michael always will be remembered for his keen sense of humor, his quick wit, his joie de vivre, and his kind nature. He will be dearly missed by many.

"He was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents; his father Edward F. O’Malley, his father-in-law August J. “Gus” Feldker, and his stepbrother-in-law, Larry Shannahan.

"He is survived by his wife, Susan, nee Feldker, O’Malley, whom he married August 26, 1989; his beloved daughters, Katherine C. O’Malley and Elizabeth O. (Shane) Conzelman of Belleville, IL, and Sara A. “Sally” O’Malley at home; and a precious granddaughter, Emma Conzelman; his mother, Martha O’Malley; his brother, John O’Malley; his sisters, Mary (Bruce) Perkins, Annabelle Gillespie (Allen Sikorski), Barbara Daley, Melissa (Mike) Walsh, Trudy (Rick) Effinger, and Sheila (Mike) Hunsicker; his parents-in-law, Dave and Sandy Shannahan and Rebecca Elam; his brothers-in-law, Tom (Cindy) Feldker and Gus (Vicki) Feldker, Jr.; his sister-in-law, Karin (David Joyce) Feldker; his stepbrother-in-law Tim (Mary) Shannahan; his stepsisters-in-law Beth (Courtney) Rejman and Angela (Phil) Kammann; his first wife, Lisa (Skip) Steffen; and many beloved nephews, nieces and dear friends.

"In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to USA Swimming Foundation Make-a-Splash Program.

"Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.kasslyfuneral.com.

"Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at Kassly Mortuary, Fairview Heights, IL.

"Funeral: Funeral procession to leave at 9:30 AM on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 from Kassly Mortuary, Fairview Heights, IL for a 10:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Belleville, IL with Father Kenneth York and Father Clyde Grogan officiating. Interment will be in Mount Carmel, Belleville, IL. "