Obituary of Michael Joseph Whalen

Michael (Mike) Joseph Whalen, age 78, peacefully passed-away in his home in Hollister, CA. on June 27, 2020. He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph “Packy” and Edythe Whalen and daughter Kim Velho-Meno and (the late Archie). He is survived by his wife of 41years Jeanette Whalen (Yocham) and 4 daughters, Virginia Whalen- Alvarez and (the late Daniel Alvarez), Patricia Whalen-Gonzalez, Jean Whalen and Cindy Velho - Alnas. He was blessed with 12 Grandchildren, Jeremy Rourick and (Cindy), Robert Whalen and (Josephina), Stephanie Rourick-Fiore and (Paul), Joseph and (Yani) Whalen, David Dunn, Nyane Gonzalez, Daniel Ray Alvarez and (Amber), Derrick Whalen, Michael and (Kourtney) Whalen, Deana Whalen, Dawna Whalen and Zackery Alnas. Great-grandchildren Jazmin, Michael, and Natalie Whalen, Makai Whalen, Casey Alba, Joseph Whalen Jr., and two new angels on the way. Two step-granddaughters Deana and Dana Alvarez and children. As well as being loved by his extended family and cousins, nieces and nephews. He graduated from San Benito High School in 1959 and shortly thereafter joined the Army National Guards. He served from 1960 to 1962 as a tank driver. This should not surprise any who knew him through those days. He loved to drive…anything…very-fast…which added to his love of racing cars. With friends, he built and raced car #55 until the day came when it needed to be rebuilt to wear the proud # 23. Many memories were had by all, from those days. He also loved to race motorcycles anytime, anywhere really-fast and right up very steep hills. He loved his Hill Climbing days with all his Hill Climbing buddies. He loved his Harley and the Gypsy Tour rides. He loved horse-power, from under the hood of his race car, from the roar of his motorcycle or on the back of his horse at the rodeo roping and riding with all his cowboy buddies. He enjoyed water skiing, snow skiing, hunting, and fishing. He was a man who loved life and knew how to have fun along the way with his friends and family. For the past 38 years he and his wife Jeanette have owned a condo on Maui as a home away from home/vacation rental. He loved Maui and all of its’ beauty. He was lucky enough to share Maui with a few friends from home as well as making some long-time friends there. He loved to travel and enjoyed his trips with his wife. In between all his fun and travels in his life, he worked for his father at “Whalen’s Drug Store”. Owned the Hollister Van Service, He owned “The Skate Place”, Had a catering BBQ business for a few years that coincided with running the concessions for the Rodeo and the Fair at Bolado Park, was a fork-lift driver, but for the majority of his life he was a truck driver. Christmas and Fourth of July were his two favorite holidays and gathering all the family together for a big BBQ, grand fireworks show or a huge Prime Rib dinner, were those special moments he gave to all of us. Family or friends over the years have many memories of this man. And if you were lucky, he would share some of his stories with you. Like the fact that he went to a BB King concert and the drummer didn’t show up so because someone knew he played drums he got to sit in and play drums for BB King or how he needed to get to his job in the valley and needed a ride so they strapped him to the top of a single-seater plane to get there….he was 17. To simply say that this man enjoyed life is as much of an understatement a person can ever say about him, but for those who knew him and loved him knows exactly what that means. A Celebration of Life will be held at a date and location to be announced. Donations are preferred to the Kinship Center/Gabilan Chapter, P.O. Box 324, Tres Pinos, CA 95075 or c/o the mortuary.