DARLINGTON - Michael R. Mulcahy, age 88 of Darlington, died on Friday, January 20, 2012 at his home. He was born on February 19, 1923 to Timothy and Sarah (McDonald) Mulcahy. He attended Georgetown District #2 School and graduated from Darlington High School in the Class of 1941. Mike served as a paratrooper in the United States Army during World War II in Okinawa and Japan. He trained at Camp Joseph T. Robinson in Arkansas and completed Air Borne School at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He was a member of Bates-O'Brien-Howe-Wiegel American Legion Post #214 of Darlington and the Gratiot VFW Post. He was discharged in 1946 and returned to the family farm near Fayette. In 1949, he married Bertha Krahenbuhl. He eventually bought his own farm in the Blanchardville area where he farmed until 1979. After retiring from farming, he worked as a farm hand for Wiegel Grain Farms and as a bank courier for a number of years. For the past twenty-five years, he worked for Ruf Farm Service hauling machinery and parts all over the midwest. On June 27, 1981, he married Beverly Jacobson Paulson in Dodgeville, WI. Mike was also a member of Fayette Sportsmans Club, Argyle Rod & Gun Club, National Rifle Association, Lafayette County Shamrock Club, Holy Rosary Catholic Church, and was a former member of St. Michael's Catholic Church at Yellowstone. Mike enjoyed life to the fullest and was always having fun. He was a member of the Blanchardville Sod Busters Tug of War team for many championship years and raced his enduro truck, "Old Blue," until the age of 72. He had friends of every age and took pride in teaching his grandchildren the fine art of hunting. Many Septembers were spent bear hunting in Northern Wisconsin with Orville Davis and many of the Darlington locals.

Survivors include his wife, Bev;

his children: Richard (Diane) Mulcahy of Monroe,

Diane (Pete) Conway of LaCrosse,

Pat Mulcahy of Janesville,

John (Tammy) Mulcahy of Darlington;

Robert (Joy) Burns of Brodhead;

a daughter-in-law, Dawn (Dan) Blotz of Darlington;

stepchildren: Donna (Dave) Chambers of Darlington,

Beaver (Cathy) Paulson of Darlington,

Patti (Dick) Rielly of Oregon,

Jodi (Bill) Ruf of Fayette,

Stacey (Tom) Smith of Darlington

Wendy (Kevin) Leahy of Shullsburg,

many grandchildren and great-grandchildren;

his brother, George Mulcahy of Darlington;

his sister, Sister Carmen Mulcahy, O.S.B. of St. Cloud, Minnesota;

other relatives, and friends through the United States.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Bertha; his infant son, Patrick; his infant daughter, Alice; his son, Donald; his sister, Sister Maureen Mulcahy, O.S.B; a granddaughter, Jordyn Paulson; and a great-granddaughter, Grace Mulcahy.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, January 27, 2012 at HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 104 E. Harriet Street, Darlington, WI, with Fr. Randy Budnar officiating. Burial with Full Military Honors will follow at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3:00 - 8:00 pm Thursday, January 26, 2012 at HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC CHURCH where a Rosary will be prayed 2:45 pm. Visitation will also be held from 9:00 am - 10:15 am prior to the funeral on Friday at the church. The Steil Camacho Funeral Home, 206 E. Harriet Street, Darlington, WI, is serving the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. Mike will be sadly missed by his family and friends and will be remembered by many for his pranks and his stories. He was well-known around the state and out-of-state for his good humor and mighty handshake.