Michael Gabriel Rowland, 21, of Shueyville, Iowa, passed away on Friday, February 16, 2018, on Ko Pha Ngan Island in Thailand while on vacation.  While there most likely were underlying medical and psychological issues, he died trying to escape from a perceived threat.

Michael was born on December 26th, 1996, in Hartford, Wisconsin. He was adopted at three months of age into the Rowland family when they resided in New Berlin, Wisconsin.  In 1998 the family moved to Shueyville, Iowa, where he and his three siblings were homeschooled.  Michael also attended Prairie High School and Kirkwood Community College; both located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Since 2015, Michael had been employed at the Hy-Vee grocery store on Wilson Avenue in Cedar Rapids.

Possessing innate musical talent and a charismatic personality, he was seen performing with his mom and sisters in community theater, his most memorable role as Oliver Twist in the musical " Oliver !" at age 9.  He also performed with Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre.  As a soloist with Crescendo Children's Choir, he performed the lead role of Aeneas in the opera " Dido and Aeneas ".  Michael honed his writing skills through Future Problem Solving, and participated in many state and international competitions.

Michael loved all kinds of music and would frequently attend concerts with friends and siblings. He enjoyed creating new songs on his laptop and blaring music from his car.  Michael was the one people went to when they needed new songs for listening.  He was always sending new songs or albums out to get his friends hooked on random music artists and obscure bands.

An avid fan of the Green Bay Packers, Michael watched every game he could, including a road trip to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  He enjoyed a variety of sports, especially baseball, and played on little league teams coached by his dad.  Later, he played on the Prairie High School baseball team.  Michael would occasionally go golfing and hunting with his dad, or watch the Lakers games with whichever sibling would join him.

Michael impacted so many lives, and was loved by everyone who met him.  He was an amazing friend, loving and helpful to everyone around him. He would always answer his phone right away, replied to texts from those wanting to talk, and would be there for his friends and family whenever they needed him. He was always willing to hang out or go on spur-of-the-moment adventures with whomever, whenever.

Michael is survived by his adoptive parents, Tom and Linda (Robinson) Rowland; siblings, Monica, Maya, and Tony Rowland; biological mother Angela (Paul) Rohloff and their children Kaleb Gorman, Seth, Zheta, and Trinity Rohloff; biological father, Kenny Cordero; grandparents, Richard and Joan Rowland, Donna Robinson, Judy Gorman, Edward Gorman and Sylvia (Larry) Huczko; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

He was preceded in death by grandfathers, Daniel Robinson and Ralph Cordero.

Visitation will be held Friday, March 2nd from 4 to 7 p.m. with a Rosary starting at 7 p.m. at Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre located at 2121 Bowling St SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404.  Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 3rd at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 618 E Davenport St, Iowa City, IA 52245 (http://stwenc-ic.com/).  Interment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, Solon, Iowa.

Memorials can be made to Johnson County (Iowa) Right to Life (www.jcrtl.org) or to the St. Mary's Cemetery- Improvement Fund care of St. Mary's Church in Solon, Iowa ( http://www.solonstmary.org/ ).