August 19, 2021

Michael's OBITUARY

Michael J. McWilliams, 80, of Ottumwa, died at 6:50 a.m. August 19, 2021 at Hospice House in Ottumwa.

He was born June 18, 1941 in Cherokee, Iowa to William P. and Iva Miller McWilliams.
A 1959 graduate of Ottumwa High School and a 1963 graduate of the University of Iowa, Mike taught for one year at Pleasant Valley Schools before attending graduate school for one year. Mike left grad school to take a job with Ottumwa Community Schools and taught at the high school for 35 years, retiring in 2000. Mike coached the Ottumwa Swim Team officially for 40 years and as a volunteer after that, leaving an impact on generations of swimmers. In 2019, the competition pool at The Beach Ottumwa was named after him and in 2020 he was inducted into the Iowa High School Swim Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Surviving is his daughter, Sarah (Chuck) Darrow of North Liberty; granddaughter, Delaney Darrow; his companion, Sarah Wenke of Ottumwa; and 3 sisters, Jane Carr of Solon, Jean (Mike) Couch of Los Altos Hills, CA and Virginia Gardner of Ottumwa.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers-in-law, Frank Carr and Gene Gardner.

His body has been cremated.

Memorial services will be 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 24th at Reece Funeral Home. For those unable to attend, you may view the service on the Reece Funeral Home Facebook page.

Private inurnment will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ottumwa A-Club for the swim team, the Food Bank of Southern Iowa or to the donor’s choice.