Mike McDaniel

Mike McDaniel, or “M.C.”, as his stepdaughters affectionately called him, was born in Rockford on April 11, 1945, to Rufus and Phyllis (Gulotta) McDaniel. He was the second of three kids - big sister Pat (McDaniel) Bowgren/Mefford and younger brother Joseph McDaniel. He officially graduated from St Thomas, an all boys Catholic school, in 1963. Even though he and his classmates attended Boylan Central Catholic High School for their senior year, they received diplomas from St Thomas HS. Mike greatly appreciated the discipline and values he received at St Thomas and the Augustinian brothers who taught and ran the school.

As a teen, Mike was the lead singer of The Vantrell's, one of Rockford’s first rock 'n roll bands. After about a year the band reformed with a few new members and they were called the Intruders. Mike was a dynamic entertainer who helped his bands achieve great success, playing for several years in the Midwest. The band was quite well-known and in demand! He enlisted in the Army in 1968, and was deployed to Vietnam where he was a specialist in Psy-Ops.

Mike married his second wife, Jackie (Haddad) McDaniel in 1977. He was endowed with an instant family of two stepdaughters from that union, and eventually his only son, Michael Aaron. Mike’s career varied over the years - Tailor, Winnebago County Sheriff's Deputy, Fire Investigator. His most fulfilling role, arguably, was Director of Security at Clock Tower (Inn) Resort and Conference Center. Not only was he an exemplary employee, but he also made lasting friendships with many colleagues, whom he considered family. Most recently he was a process server for Markley Investigations and a campground host at Rock Cut State Park - the latter at which he was living out a retirement dream that he had talked about for decades.

For the last few years, Mike enjoyed his winters in Florida and his summers at Rock Cut State Park. He was also a devout Catholic, who attended daily Mass in church or online on EWTN. He had a great love for St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in South Rockford. Every once in a while he would get up and sing some tunes of his youth with his brother Joe’s band the Forest City Sound during their annual summer reunion.

Mike is predeceased by his mother, Phyllis; his father, Rufus; and his sister, Pat Bowgren Mefford. He is survived by his son, Michael McDaniel of San Diego, California; his brother, Joesph (Gay) McDaniel of Champaign; his stepdaughters, Lisa (Rick) Jones of Judah, WI and Jennifer Pearson of Rockford; his nieces and nephews, who welcomed him as though he was their own father, and numerous close friends that he collected so easily with his outgoing and charismatic personality.

Memorial Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, April 27, 2024, at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 1010 Ferguson St. Rockford. A visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until time of service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established by the family. Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory assisted the family. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.