Michael James Stapleton entered his eternal rest on April 10, 2026. His kindness, generosity, and unwavering dedication to family and friends will be immensely missed. Michael was a warmhearted man who enjoyed making new friends and helping others.

Michael was born in Detroit, Michigan, to James and MaryAnne Stapleton. He briefly lived in Havana, Cuba, as a young child, and was raised mostly in Park Forest, IL. The eldest of seven children, he grew up in a tightknit family along with siblings Elizabeth, Margarita, Kathleen, Patricia, Monica, and Anthony, as well as his beloved first dog, Penelope, the finest female Black Labrador Retriever to ever grace God's kingdom. Michael will be dearly missed by his daughter Connie Ainger, his daughter Rachel Edwards, and his son James Stapleton.

Michael was a dedicated grandfather to Evie, Avalon, and Olive. He loved and cherished the incomparable Melvin, an idiosyncratic Dachshund who first captured Michael's heart in Illinois and subsequently served as his stalwart companion throughout Michael's nine-year residence in his adopted home in the Sonoran Desert.

Michael maintained a lifelong fascination with automobiles, and spent decades happily repairing the cars of less mechanically gifted family members, friends, and, truth be told, anyone who needed his help. He loved grilling, eagerly embraced hiking and biking in Arizona's majestic landscapes, and, late in life, was perhaps happiest when tooling around his mobile home park in his automated wheelchair with loyal companion Melvin happily perched on his lap. He was a devoted father and grandfather, an unfailingly loyal friend, and a cheerful companion to those around him.

While Michael will be dearly missed by family and friends alike, we can now rest assured that God's fleet of celestial automobiles is in good hands. Your wounds healed, your vigor restored, your memory cherished, be at peace with our Lord and Savior.