Mykel Andrei Apasan Magaling was a man for whom actions would speak louder than words. His life motto might well have been “if it isn’t logical, it’s not important.” The qualities of being fair, just and the ability to recognize what was right were clearly driving forces in Mykel’s life. He was analytical and observant, with an ability to be simultaneously spontaneous and keenly perceptive. Mykel was modest in his actions and extremely literal in his thoughts and in the manner in which he communicated with others. When Mykel said something, he meant it. All those who knew him appreciated this trademark quality.
Mykel was born on November 13, 1994 at Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital in Calapan City, Philippines to Sam and Maria Magaling. Mykel was raised in Calapan City, Philippines and then moved to Minnesota at age seven before moving to Las Vegas at age 19. He was raised with an older brother Mark, younger sister Marielle, and two younger brothers Martin and Marvin. Even as a small child, Mykel wanted to understand what was right and what was wrong in any given situation. As Mykel grew older, he realized the importance of being treated fairly, and in return, he treated everyone around him the same way. This belief in fair play served Mykel well throughout his life and despite his natural shyness; he enjoyed a solid group of friends.
During his childhood, family and friends viewed Mykel as a quiet and reserved person with what most would consider a calm and tranquil demeanor. In fact, he was a fairly curious child who had the ability to entertain himself and didn’t require much in the way of outside stimulation. A great deal of Mykel’s free time was spent learning how and why the things around him worked. He was an active child who loved being outdoors and absorbing all the sensory input that nature could provide. In his spare time he liked to collect toy soldiers and loved playing video games.
The fact that he was curious was an asset to Mykel while he was in school. He possessed strong study skills and good concentration. He relished the task of scrutinizing problems, investigating all of the options and then solving them. Mykel enjoyed tackling the project that was right in front of him and working it straight through to its conclusion. Sometimes, he would become so involved in the process of problem solving that he would lose awareness of his surroundings. Experience was Mykel’s best teacher. He graduated from Mound Westonka High School in Minnetrista, Minnesota in 2013. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers.
Those who didn’t know Mykel well might have thought him to be objective and somewhat emotionally detached, but family and friends who were close to him knew that he was capable of unexpected flashes of humor. Even though the circle of friends was somewhat small, it was a strong and loyal group, and Mykel liked nothing better than to spend his free time with them. While growing up, some of his best friends were Jason Schiebe, Darius Hasse, Grand Piepkorn, Zach Olson, Greg Grand, Levi Toftey, Ryan Anderson, Phil Makutuya, Joel Vasquez and Kyle Wilson.
Mykel’s curious and inquisitive nature influenced his choice of leisure pursuits as well. He applied his strong concentration and analytical skills as to how things worked to his choice of activities. He particularly enjoyed the “alone” time his hobbies provided. His favorite pursuits were online video gaming. He was part of a professional gaming team with his friends. They played Halo and competed in tournaments held in Houston, Chicago, and Florida.
Mykel appreciated the occasions when he was able to travel and get away on a vacation. He enjoyed learning about different locales and was open to exploring new and different places. Favorite vacations included Mt. Zion in Utah, San Diego, California and the Philippines.
Mykel was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Mykel’s favorites was Goldie, a Cairn Terrier Dog. They were best friends for four years.
Mykel passed away on March 21, 2019 at St. Rose Dignity San Martin Hospital after fighting a rare form of cancer called Fibrolamellar Liver Cancer. He is survived by his parents Sam and Maria, older brother Mark, younger sister Marielle, younger brothers Martin and Marvin, grandmother Lina, and grandfather Osias, Sr. Services were held at Palm Southwest Mortuary, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mykel was the type of person who would show others his feelings through his actions. He was practical and realistic but was able to be flexible when the need arose. He had a curiosity about the things around him and tried to experience life directly rather than sit back and talk about it. The experiences he treasured most were those he shared with his loved ones. Mykel Andrei Apasan Magaling will be greatly missed.
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