Mr Phalen was a music teacher that changed the lives of many students at Newman Catholic High School in Mason City. Newman Loyalty, which he wrote and composed, is sung at every graduation and event. Our class of 1969 was blessed to have him as a special guest for our 50th reunion! May he rest in peace! He will be missed and forever remembered!

Margaret Hepp Simonson
June 18, 2024

I am so sad to see this. Mike did both of daughter's graduation banners and did a portrait of both of them on the banner to which we framed, and the girls have them to this day. Mike was a great friend to my parents and to our entire family. Rest in peace dear friend.

Amy Senninger
June 19, 2024

We are so sorry to hear the news about Mike. My husband Ed worked with him at Newman High School. We have many fond memories of Mike. His love of music will live on through all the kids he taught.

Barb Neibauer
June 19, 2024

Strange they did not mention Newman High in his memorial. He had such an impact there and changed the lives of many people there. I am one of those and will always remember him with great fondness. RIP Mike.

Teri (McLaughlin) Calvin
June 19, 2024

Strange they did not mention Newman High in his memorial. He had such an impact there and changed the lives of many people there. I am one of those and will always remember him with great fondness. RIP Mike.

Teri (McLaughlin) Calvin
June 19, 2024

Mike Phelan was a wonderful man! He made a difference for so many of us at Newman High School in Mason City. Besides teaching choir and directing musicals and coffee house theater, he was a driving factor in helping us be better people. May he rest in peace and in the arms of Jesus🙏🏻⛪️.

Sharon Jorgensen Gietl
June 19, 2024

My mother, Margaret Schmolke, was the stage manager for many of Mr. Phelan’s productions at Newman Catholic HS in Mason City. As a result of this collaboration, they became very good friends. In fact, she asked him to pick out the piano she gave me for Christmas one year. He was a wonderful pianist, artist, and choir director. He will also forever be remembered at Newman as he wrote the Newman Loyalty song. He will be missed.

Dorie Schmolke Coughenour
June 20, 2024

Michael Phelan was so very instrumental in many of us who went to Newman HS in Mason City. Traumatic teen years gained not just musical appreciation and knowledge of stage plays, but confidence in ourselves every step of those years. Yes, I have kept music in my life, and was inspired to learn calligraphy as well. Many thanks for your tutelage and inspiration...it can never be expressed fully. Prayers for family in these difficult days.

Mary-Margaret Ries (Balek)
June 21, 2024

Michael Phelan was an incredible musician and left a lasting impact on the vocal music program at Hampton Dumont High School. I will never forget the incredible experience of being under his direction for The production of “ Fiddler on the On the Roof” my. Sending condolences to his family.

Julie LaPerre
June 28, 2024

I attended high school at McCallsburg, Iowa High School with Mike. He was very active in band and vocal music, Annual staff, F.F.A., cheerleader, class officer, homecoming attendant, and contributed his artistry wherever needed. He was a wonderful dancer and a nice person. My sympathy to his family.

Diane Sandvick Krejci
June 29, 2024

Sending condolences

Brytta
June 29, 2024

I attended high school at McCallsburg, Iowa High School with Mike. He was very active in band and vocal music, Annual staff, F.F.A., cheerleader, class officer, homecoming attendant, and contributed his artistry wherever needed. He was a wonderful dancer and a nice person. My sympathy to his family.

Diane Sandvick Krejci
June 30, 2024

I was so sorry to hear of Mike's passing. We had a fun friendship of always sharing about the Hawkeyes. We worked at Von Maur together. He was such a wonderful musician. He will be missed.

Beth Pospisil
July 2, 2024

I only found out today from a Newman H.S. classmate that my teacher and friend Michael Phelan had passed. Mike taught me how to sing, a lasting skill that I use to this day. We became good friends after I graduated in 1971 and maintained the friendship for over half a century. I left the USA in 1977 but Mike stayed in touch, sending me notices of important events in his life , always using beautiful calligraphy. He faithfully sent me hand crafted Christmas cards every year, including last December. Mike was a teacher, musician, set designer, stage hand, calligrapher, vocal coach, theatre director, live performer, composer. He was the definition of the word, artist. He loved his two boys and was immensely proud of them. He touched so many lives. Michael Phelan, the lad from Zearing, created quite a legacy - a part of which will literally be sung tonight by two of his former students over a pint of Guinness. R.I.P. my friend.

Dale Faulken
October 7, 2024