Obituary of Michael Callahan

Michael D. Callahan, age 85, former owner of the Callahan Funeral Home in Iowa City, died Thursday, January 2, 2025, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11am Friday, January 10, 2025, at St. Patricks Catholic Church in Iowa City, where a time of visitation will be from 9:30am until the services begin.  Burial in the Old Section of St. Joseph Cemetery with his parents, Dr. George and Helen Callahan.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Mike’s memory to St. Patricks Catholic Church of Iowa City for masses. 

Michael was born August 17, 1939 in Iowa City, the son of Dr. George and Helen Anderson (Callahan).  He graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in 1957. He attended and graduated from the University of Iowa Hospital School of X-Ray Technology (Radiologic Technology) in 1960, and was employed as an x-ray technician at Brokaw Hospital, Normal Illinois; Doctor’s Hospital, Seattle, Washington and the University of Iowa Hospitals  and Clinics.  He later attended the University of Iowa and graduated from Parsons College, Fairfield, Iowa in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.  He later graduated from the Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1969 and was employed by the George L. Gay Funeral Home, Iowa City; the Donohue Mortuary, Iowa City, and the Kuba Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids, Iowa and was later employed by Westinghouse Learning Corp. (Pearson) for 5 years before purchasing the Beckman’s Butherus Funeral Home, Iowa City in 1978. He owned and operated the Callahan Funeral Home until 1999.

Mike was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Iowa City, Knights of Columbus Marquette Council, and Knights of Columbus of Iowa City, IFDA, NFDA, Johnson County Historical Society and A.A.R.P.

Following retirement he was employed part-time by the Papich-Kuba Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Mike is survived by his cousins, Jean Craig of Anchorage, Alaska, Janice (William) Berglin, of Fairbanks, Alaska, Roseanna Barnes of Colorado.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Dr. Patrick Callahan, and a cousin, Daniel Koudelka.