Jerseyville family to be honored in Roses Parade

The Telegraph | Dan Brannan
For The Telegraph/JAMES B. RITTER
Watched by her granddaughter, Holly, Patty Kallal of Jerseyville and other family members add finishing touches to a floragraph of her late husband, Mike, that will be displayed on a float at this year's Tournament of Roses Parade in California. The float is sponsored by Donate Life, and Mike Kallal is being honored because his eyes were donated to two people after he was killed in a 2004 traffic crash.

JERSEYVILLE - The Kallal family and friends of Michael "Popeye" Kallal of Jerseyville will be recognized for their fund-raising with a floragraph on a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade.

Donate Life sponsors the float in the parade. The St. Louis Mid-America Transplant organization is sponsoring the Kallal family floragraph and is assisting in funding part of a trip for the remaining Kallal family to go to the Tournament of Roses Parade and surrounding activities.

A floragraph is a portrait made of flowers and other natural materials.

Mike Kallal was an organ donor after his death in a 2004 traffic crash, and the gift of his eyes helped two people recover their sight.

"It has been eight years since we first lost Mike," said his widow, Patty Kallal. "Donor families, live donors and recipients will be on the float, along with the floragraphs of different people.

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