Obituary of Phillip Callahan

CASCADE, IOWA Phillip A. Callahan, 81, of Cascade died Friday, June 20, 2014, at his home surrounded by his loved ones. Friends may call from 2:00 - 9:00 p.m. Monday, June 23, 2014, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave SW in Dyersville. Friends may continue to call after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Matthias Catholic Church in Cascade. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 24, 2014, at St. Matthias Catholic Church in Cascade with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery in Farley. Rev. Douglas Loecke will officiate and American Legion Post 528 will accord Military Honors. Phil was born September 16, 1932, in Cascade the son of Eugene and Mary (Hosch) Callahan. He served in the Army during the Korean War and upon his return he married Mary "Lorlei" Fox on September 3, 1955, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Farley. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Education at the University of Northern Iowa. He taught briefly and then became established with the Social Security Administration, from which he retired after thirty years. He traveled the country to educate many groups regarding Social Security and Medicare. Phil was a die-hard Cubs fan who also spent a lot of time fishing and reading. He also spent a great deal of time with his children and grandchildren. He was an honest man who would have given you the shirt off of his back. Survivors include his children: Patrick D. Callahan of Kansas City, MO, Erin (Patrick) Callahan-Halpin of Lawrence, KS, Mary "Boodie" (Rick) Reeves of Pittsburg, KS, Laurie Ann "Loochie" Callahan of Ottawa, KS, Dennis Callahan of Baldwin City, KS, Teri Callahan of Farley, Tara (Drew) Mescher of Monticello;17 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren; siblings: Ron "Jess" (Joan) of Chicago, IL, Roger "Jeep" (Mary) of Colfax, Joyce (Tom) Burke of Menomonie Falls, WI, Claude of Dubuque, Judy Callahan of Dubuque, Lois (Chuck) Mast of , Warren "Jerry" (Bonnie) of Cascade, Stanley (Karen) of Cascade, Quentin of Cascade, and Mary Lou Callahan of ; a sister-in-law, Judy Callahan of Independence, IA; honorary neighbor grandchildren, Jake and Maggie Loes. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife in 1995, a son, Kevin in 1958, a brother, Maurice "Red" Callahan, a brother-in-law, Tom Burke and all of the in-laws of the Albert Fox family Memorials are preferred to Above and Beyond Hospice of Monticello, Iowa