Dean "Pete" McGaffin (2009)

MCGAFFIN, MULLEN, FOSTER

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 11/14/2009 at 12:22:12

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
November 11, 2009

DEAN "PETE" McGAFFIN, Winterset

Dean “Pete” McGaffin, 85, died Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, at his home in Winterset.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the First United Methodist Church in Winterset with Pastor Beverlee Bell officiating. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Corning, Iowa, at a later date.

Pete was born Jan. 15, 1924, in Corning, Iowa, to Samuel and Cleo (Mullen) McGaffin. He was raised in Corning, where he graduated from high school. After high school, Pete served in the United States Army during World War II, receiving two Purple Hearts for the campaigns he served in. After his discharge, he married Eleanor Jeanne Foster on April 14, 1946, in Corning. Pete and his family later moved to Winterset and have been residents for over 46 years. Pete was a retired service station owner and mechanic. He served as a member of the Corning and Winterset fire departments for many years and also was a member of the First United Methodist Church.

Pete is survived by his wife, Eleanor McGaffin of Winterset; sons, Alan Dean (Terri) McGaffin of Sioux City and James Eric (Linda Jo) of Story City; three grandchildren, Mason McGaffin, Elza McGaffin and Graham McGaffin; four grandchildren, Madison, Brendan, Meagan and Kaitlyn; brother-in-law, Lowell Foster of North Carolina; and sister-in-law, Mary Jo Foster of Afton;.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Cleo (Mullen) McGaffin; brother, Charles McGaffin and his wife, Vivian; brother-in-law, Charles E. Foster; sister-in-law, Virginia Foster; and great-grandson, Colin Michael McGaffin.

Memorials given to the family will be directed to Middle River Hospice, First United Methodist Church, American Legion Post 184, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Funeral arrangements were handled by McCalley-Collins Funeral Home in Winterset.