Michael Feiler

Michael Feiler, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2023 at the age of 89. He was born April 6th, 1933 in Agendorf, Hungary, to Maria Ulreich Feiler and Michael Feiler. Michael grew up with his beloved siblings, three sisters (Hilda, Liesl and Mitzi) and his younger brother (Horst), all raised by their parents and grandparents in Agendorf. Their childhoods and education were interrupted by the events of WWII. When Michael was 11 years old, the family left their home in Agendorf by horse and wagon to escape the battlefront. They returned months later to find their homes occupied. After the war, the family was relocated to Unterkochen, Germany to restart their lives. Michael completed an apprenticeship as a carpenter and cabinetmaker in 1951, and helped his mother and siblings build a family home. Michael emigrated to the United States by ship through Ellis Island on November 22, 1955 at the age of 22, with one trunk and an accordion. He arrived in Chicago where he met Susan K. Grabner, his future wife, and began working as a carpenter. Michael was inducted into the US Army on November 7, 1956 and on active duty until November, 1958, serving in S. Korea near the DMZ achieving the rank of Sergeant. Michael returned to Chicago after military service, and re-started his career at Paschen Construction Company. He married Susan in 1961, and their daughter Heidi S. Feiler was born in 1962. The family purchased a home and lived in South Holland, IL (1962-2021). Michael devoted his industrious life to his family and his work. He was artistic, creative and very talented at resolving engineering and managerial challenges. One of Michael's first jobs was to rebuild the decorative main wooden doors of the Fourth Presbyterian Church that was built in 1912 on North Michigan Avenue, Chicago (the oldest building of the Magnificent Mile after the 1869 Water Tower). Those doors were one of his first projects that he showed his young grandsons, along with his impact on the Chicago skyline. They have always been inspired by their Opa and the many experiences he shared, and today, both have followed in his footsteps working as engineers in Washington State. Michael took great pride in his work and instilled a strong work ethic in those around him. At every opportunity, Michael walked the construction job-sites, some of which took him hundreds of feet in the air building Chicago skyscrapers. He was driven by the hands-on and collaborative experience of transforming a set of blueprint drawings to a final "living" structure. Michael advanced quickly at Paschen to become a lead supervisor, and ultimately a vice president of the company. His work included many Chicago landmarks including the Marina Towers, the Dirksen Federal Building, the Jardine Water Purification Plant, The Deep Tunnel, Northwestern Medicines mid-century modern clover-leaf shaped Prentice Women's Hospital, the Lake Shore Drive S-curve, the McCormick Place Expansion, and the Michigan Avenue Olympia Centre. In the 1980s, he supervised the building of the I-90 passage through Mercer Island to Seattle, Washington. Michael was a lover of nature and his hobbies included golfing, fishing, skiing and later in life, taking long walks every day. He is remembered by those he met along the way as a friend who was always quick with a smile and a wave. Michael was predeceased by Susan on April 12, 2016. He is survived by his loving daughter, Heidi (John Muschler); two grandchildren Alexander and Evan, and brother Horst (Aalen, Germany). Please email notes, or inquiries to FeilerM62@gmail.com.

Michael Feiler

April 6, 1933 - February 24, 2023