James McCullagh Obituary

James A. McCullagh

James A. McCullagh, passed away on Monday, January 23, 2017, at the age of 79.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Arnold McCullagh and Dorothy Alice Lehman McCullagh.

Jim was loved and admired by many including his wife, Lynn; daughters and sons-in-law, Carrie (Karl Berger), Sharon (Mic McGrath), Leslie (Matt Siegel), and Gail (Matt Silversten). He also had eleven adoring grandchildren, Nick and Jake Berger, Finn and Grady McGrath, Molly, Maggie and Morgan Siegel, Van, Rhys, Nora and Laney Silversten; his sister, Pat Pybum of Lisle, Illinois; and her children, Ken, Lori (Tervo),Tim and Mike Pyburn, their spouses and their children.

Jim was born and raised on the south side of Chicago until leaving for college. He returned to the suburbs after college and lived a full life with his wife of 52 years, Lynn, and raised their four daughters in Downers Grove, Illinois, until retirement in the early 2000's. Jim was a strong salesman who worked at Avery Dennison for 19 years and then retired after 19 years at Print-O-Tape in Libertyville, Illinois. Jim was a hardworking, caring, kind, and gentle man.

He was active in many activities over his lifetime. In addition to attending all of his daughter's athletic and extracurricular activities, he was involved with each daughter in the Indian Princess organization. Jim enjoyed watching Chicago sports. He took advantage of his interest in sports and took Lynn and his daughters to countless Chicago Bulls, Chicago Bears, Chicago Blackhawks, and his beloved Chicago Cubs games. He took pride in teaching each of his daughters the rules and strategies of each sport, sharing his love of sports and instilling in them, good sportsmanship and true love and respect of the game.

Prior to retirement, he enjoyed ushering at the Downers Grove First United Methodist Church. In recent years, Jim and Lynn divided their time between Surprise, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, and living on Lake Redstone, outside of Reedsburg, Wisconsin. Jim enjoyed the many friendships he formed over the years. From growing up on the south side of Chicago, attending college at Ripon and Drake, all the way through his parenting and working years, through the last years in retirement. During retirement Jim enjoyed ushering at the Surprise Spring Training Baseball Facility, played Bocce, and joined the Parkinson's Tremble Clef choir group.

Jim passed away from congestive heart failure. Within the last ten years, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and worked through the various side effects. He was active in many Parkinson's support groups and the family would appreciate donations be made for additional research at www.michaeljfox.org.

To sign the guestbook online and send your memories, condolences and well-wishes to the family, please visit, www.surprisefuneralcare.com.