Michael “Mike” Assalley, 38, of Taylorville, died on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Springfield Memorial Hospital in Springfield, Illinois after a brief but mighty battle with acute leukemia, of which he was recently diagnosed.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, located at 108 West Adams St. in Taylorville. Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20, also at St. Mary’s Church in Taylorville, with the Rev. Piotr Kosk officiating. Interment will follow the Funeral Mass with his final resting place to be at St. Maurice Cemetery in Morrisonville.
Mr. Assalley was born on November 12, 1985, in Bloomington, Illinois, the son of William “Bill” Assalley and Carolyn (Koehler) Assalley. As a youngster, Mr. Assalley attended school in Mahomet before his family moved to Effingham at the start of his high school career. It was in high school that Mr. Assalley met his future wife, Lauren.
A product of a beautiful, close-knit family, Mr. Assalley also spent much time in the LaSalle and Peru areas, visiting frequently with his beloved grandparents and extended family.
On Aug. 4, 2012, he married the love of his life, Lauren (Sanders) Assalley in Effingham. Mr. Assalley and Lauren shared 20 wonderful years of life together as a couple, 11 of which were in marriage. They were blessed with three beautiful children, and Mr. Assalley’s young family was his pride and joy.
Mr. Assalley graduated from Effingham High School in 2004. While in high school, he was voted “Homecoming King," was co-captain of the football team and was also voted as “most talkative” by his peers. He had a brilliant mind and was knowledgeable on many topics, earning notable awards such as Daughters of The American Revolution (DAR), All-American Scholar and induction to the French National Honor Society. He spent his post high school years working as a pharmacy technician for Walgreens before hearing his calling to service and returning to school. Mr. Assalley graduated with honors from mortuary school at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg in 2014.
He started his early career working for Butler Funeral Homes in Springfield as a school intern, licensed funeral director apprentice and then as a licensed funeral director.
In May 2017, Mr. Assalley ventured into entrepreneurship and acquired four funeral homes from Perfetti Funeral Homes, Inc., Taylorville, Morrisonville, Sorento and Panama, locations, and in July 2021, he acquired Young Funeral Home in Greenville, his fifth funeral home. Mr. Assalley garnered much success with his career and businesses in his young life. His legacy for service will continue.
He was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Taylorville and a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council 2120. He was currently serving as president of the Executive Board of Directors for the Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce and a committee member for Sangchris and Taylorville Chapters of Ducks Unlimited. He served on numerous other community agency boards, including the board of directors for DowntownTaylorville.org and serving as a Past President of the Christian County United Way. He provided and awarded many scholarships to local high school students. Mr. Assalley immersed himself in his community and had a true servant’s heart.
One of the most interesting and multi-faceted persons one could meet, Mr. Assalley had a multitude of interests and skill sets including music, playing multiple instruments and writing and recording songs; hunting, especially ducks and waterfowl; and outdoorsmanship, traveling, history, politics, sports, as the Chicago Cubs and Bears and Notre Dame football were favorites; collections, often sourcing family heirlooms such as his ancestral Koehler duck decoys; and making memories with his family and friends.
He hardly knew a stranger and touched many lives in his short time on earth with generosity, compassion and authenticity. His quick wit and gifted mind brought much laughter and joy to all who loved him. He was a loving husband, a devoted father to his three children, a caring son, protective brother, and loyal friend. Mr. Assalley was a man of strong faith in God.
Mr. Assalley is survived by his wife, who he often called “love of my life” and “my queen,” Lauren E. Assalley of Taylorville; children, Ila Belle Assalley, age eight, Vincent Francis Kent Assalley, age five, and John William Assalley, age one; parents, Bill and Carolyn Assalley of Taylorville; mother-in-law, Debbie Sanders of Watson; father-in-law, Derek Sanders of Newton; sisters, Lauren (Wesley) Layton of Ypsilanti, MI, and Sydney Assalley (significant other Dillon Williams) of Ypsilanti, MI; sister-in-law, Nikki (Richard) Vahling of Teutopolis; brother-in-law, Logan Sanders (significant other, Catherine Zumwalt and her sons, Noah and Nicholas); niece and goddaughter, Aubrey Vahling; grandmothers, Jacquelyn Assalley of Peru and Linda Koehler of Peru; and many doting aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Frank E. Assalley and maternal grandfather, Kent L. Koehler; paternal uncle, Robert H. Assalley; and best friend, Zachary Fish of Effingham, who also had an untimely passing.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to an educational fund for Mike and Lauren’s children, c/o Lauren Assalley.
Arrangements have been entrusted to his own Shafter-Perfetti and Assalley Funeral Home in Taylorville.
Please visit www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com to share memories of Mr. Assalley or to offer condolences to his family.
