Angels called upon Tom McCullough on Dec 17, 2022 to bring him to his heavenly home. He was 69 years old and had fought a long and courageous battle with Frontal Temporal Dementia. A celebration of Tom’s life will be held from 3 – 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at Leonard Funeral Home and Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Rd., where a wake service will be at 3:oo p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on December 28, 2022 at the Church of the Nativity. Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery with military honors accorded by American Legion Post #6 and the Iowa Army National Guard.

Tom (a.k.a., Uncle Tommy, Earl and Sgt. Mac) was born Dec 2, 1953 in Cherokee, Iowa to Jean and Thomas L. McCullough. He grew up in Sac City, Iowa and excelled in sports (football, track and basketball). He attended Loras College in Dubuque before graduating from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa. He had 2 children, Shannon and Tom and met his future wife, Janet Clendenen, while living in Dubuque. They were united in marriage on Oct 13, 1990 while living in Omaha for 10 years before moving to Cedar Rapids. They built their dream home in Robins, Iowa where they cherished their new home and neighborhood friends and added their beloved golden retriever Maya (his “Buddy”) to their loving home. Tom proudly served his country by enlisting in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1984 to 1994. He was a veteran of the Persian Gulf War (1990-91) where he was stationed with the 530th MP unit out of Omaha, Nebraska.

Tom had several jobs throughout his life and believed happiness was not seeing how much money you can make, but rather enjoying what you do and making others happy. He did that wholeheartedly throughout his life and is one of the reasons why he was loved so dearly. He had a passion for gardening, which would explain why he loved his jobs at the flower shops and garden centers where he worked. His last place of employment was working at Cedar Memorial Flower Shop, which he truly loved, but was forced to retire due to his illness. His other favorite job was working at the Collins Aerospace Recreation Center where he loved chatting with members and helping out with exercise equipment when needed. Tom had an extended family with his “Hobbit” friends and shared so many fun and wonderful times with them, including road trips to Chicago Cubs games, Hawkeye Football games, annual New Year’s Eve parties in Cascade, canoe trips, Hobbitfest, Oktoberfest in La Crosse, pool parties and just hanging out at the local bars or a friend’s house.

He enjoyed the simple things in life; gardening, nature, birds, trees, taking walks in the park with Maya, the beauty of the mountains, and peaceful waves of the ocean. Anyone that knew him loved his ability to joke around and make you laugh. Tom was a great athlete, and after excelling in sports in school he participated in many sports throughout his life including basketball, softball, volleyball, biking, x-country and downhill skiing, kayaking, swimming and working out at the local gyms. Tom loved the Iowa Hawkeyes and spent countless hours roaming the campus in Iowa City. He was a people person who always took the time to listen and be a true friend. He loved music from a very early age where you could find him dancing on the kitchen table. He took every opportunity to hit the dance floor and sometimes would just dance all by himself. He loved to travel and explore small towns, parks, zoos, museums, bike trails and antique shops. In 2017 he was recognized for his military service in the Gulf War by taking an “Eastern Iowa Honors Flight” to Washington, D.C. with his daughter, Shannon. He was so proud to serve his country and was a true Patriot. Most of all, Tom loved being with family and friends and will be deeply missed, but his spirit will live on in those he touched and will be forever remembered in our hearts.

Those left to cherish his memories is his beloved wife and best friend of 39 years, Janet, daughter Shannon (Sean) Cowett of Cedar Rapids, son Tom (fiancée Jessica Lampe) McCullough of Ankeny.  He was a beloved brother to his twin sister, Molly (Sonny) Jorgensen of Storm Lake, Erin (Rich Eberle) McCullough of Lake View, Lisa (Andre) Toscano of Manhattan Beach, CA, and brother Peter McCullough of Jefferson. He also leaves behind his Uncle Peter Cosgrove of Cherokee, Iowa, several cousins and many very dear nieces and nephews; Patrick (Kristen), Cathlin, Megan, Erin and Anne McCullough, Burke Grantham (Mark Pattison), Kate (Dan) Conway, Jenny (Mark) Easler, Kirsten (Mike) Byrd, Margaret (Scott) Ekroth, John Roth, Casey Jorgensen, Dallas (Cameron) Sims, Mclaine (Sisomphone) Mahavong, Farrell Jorgensen, Joe, Cavan and Maureen Eberle, Julia, Connor and Andrew Toscano. Also, Becky (Robert) Meier, Jeremy (Shannon) Clendenen, Andrew (Melanie), Alex (Sydney) and Adam Clendenen, Courtney (Matt) Cooley, April Wand, Tim (Bri), Nick (Allison), Brittany, Kayla and Emily Suchanek, Luke and Allan Nauman, Will and Alaina North. He was a beloved brother-in-law to Bill (Sara) Clendenen, Linda (Bob) Brenner, Charlie Clendenen, Sandy (Rick) Brenner, Kevin (Janet) Clendenen, Mary Wand, Nancy (late Marc) Suchanek, Carla (Harlan) Nauman, Jerry and Steve Clendenen and Sharon (Bob) North.

He will be greeted by those who preceded him in death, his parents Jean and Thomas L. McCullough, mother and father-in-law Mary and Elmer Clendenen, brothers Colin, Brian and Tom, sisters Julia, Margaret and Mary. He will join his special friends Dan Hudek and Doug Hines along with his very special niece, Trisha Clendenen and recently departed brother-in-law Marc Suchanek.

The family wish to thank all of the following for their care and compassion for Tom these past several months. The doctors, nurses and staff at the VA Medical Center in Iowa City: Dr. Velednitsky, Bonnie, Sara, Dr. Zhang, Dr. Willey, Dr. Berry, Rob, Matt, Mary, Sara, Jenny, Katie, Lorna, H.K., Rick, Dr. Erickson, Dr. B.K., Chaplain Randy, Doug, Alisa, Thua, Sara, Jessica and Hannah. Hospice of Mercy: Lisa, Laura, McKenna, Mallory, Dr. Taeger, Joe, Beth, Kelly, Kendra, Kristi and Barb. Meadow View Memory Care: Charlee, Aubri, Tina, Teegan, Kendra, Dawn, Vickie, Cathy, Cindy, McKenzie, Renee, Nicole, Gabrielle, Ava, Jill, Mary, Tina, Jartu, Deborah, Jeff, Scott, Gene, Ashley, Cecelia, Bella and Drew. Special thank you to our wonderful neighbors for being there: Sue & Larry, Karen & Duane, Sarah & Cason, Laura & Larry, Vince & Marianne, Jenny & James and Tonya & Brian.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the following organizations: Alzheimer’s Association, UIHC Children’s Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House or your local VFW and American Legion.

Online condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Tom McCullough’s obituary at www.leonardfuneralhome.com