METHUEN, MA - Michael J. Foley, 67, of Methuen, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on Friday, July 18, 2014 at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Massachusetts after a short illness.
Mr. Foley was born to the late Joseph and Margaret (Webb) Foley on January 19, 1947 in Norwood, Massachusetts. After the death of his parents, Michael spent his childhood in Lawrence with his late Aunt, Eileen Webb. He was also blessed with the loving support of hisAunt Genevieve (Killeen) Foley, and late Uncle Vincent P. Foley, Sr.
Mr. Foley attended Central Catholic High School and Merrimack College. After his freshman year, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and attended Officer’s Candidate School.
Mr. Foley served as Platoon Leader in the 1st Cavalry Division during the Vietnam conflict and rose to the rank of Captain after two tours of combat duty where he was wounded on several occasions. He was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Medal, Combat Infantry Badge as well as other honorary medals.
After the Vietnam conflict, Mr. Foley was stationed at the Pentagon and then Heidelberg, Germany where he met and married the love of his life, Ursula (Nuss) Foley. Upon returning to the U.S., he attended the University of Nebraska Omaha where he completed his B.A. in Journalism. He was then transferred to Fort Greeley, Alaska for his last tour of duty and honorable discharge. He and his family settled in Methuen where he and Ursula raised their children, Christine Marie and Sean Michael.
Mr. Foley was employed as a Reporter and then an Editor at the Lawrence Eagle Tribune. He pursued his love for computers and technology through employment with several high-tech companies, retiring as Quality Systems Manager at NYPRO, Clinton, Massachusetts three years ago.
Mr. Foley was an avid New England Patriots fan. He enjoyed fishing, shooting, computers and his late golden retriever “Max”. He was proud of his family, his Irish heritage and his service to his country.
Mr. Foley is survived by his loving wife Ursula (Nuss) Foley; a daughter Christine (Foley) Faria and her husband Douglas of Windham, NH; a son Sean Michael Foley and his wife Kelly of Lake Placid, NY; and his Grandchildren Ryan and Cassandra Faria; Tanner, Braeden and McKenna Foley. He is also survived by his Sister, Eileen (Foley) Everett of Methuen, MA; his nephew Timothy Everett and Elizabeth Perez of North Andover, MA; and his Grandnephew Liam Everett.
He also leaves behind his family in Germany, including the late Gustav and Hannelore (Nuss) Hain; Udo and Ede (Nuss) Rennert; Egon and Angelika Umscheid as well as nieces Yvonne, Birgit, Martina, Michaela and their families.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, July 24, 2014 at 12:00PM at St. Monica Church, 212 Lawrence Street, Methuen, MA. A burial will follow in Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Lawrence, MA.
Family and friends may call on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 from 4:00 to 8:00PM at the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home Inc. 122 Amesbury Street, Lawrence, MA, 01841 For more information or to send an online condolence please go to: www.breenfuneralhome.com.