Collum, John Dean "Jackie" 1927-2009

COLLUM, LOHMAN, BELLES, LOCEY, BROWN, GALLAGHER, KESTER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 1/26/2011 at 07:14:53

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Sept. 3, 2009

JACK COLLUM

Jack Collum, 82, of Grinnell, died on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, at the Mayflower Health Care Center.

A celebration of life service was held Thursday morning Sept. 3 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Grinnell with Rev. Nick Adam, pastor of the church, officiating. Music will be provided by Marilyn Kriegel, organist and the St. Mary's Choir. Casket bearers will be Tom Collum, Bill Collum, Chris Collum, Caleb Brown, Joey Gallagher and Nathan Brown, Interment will be at the Rock Creek Cemetery near Grinnell. Visitation was held at the Smith Funeral Home Wednesday the day before.

John Dean "Jackie" Collum was born on June 21, 1927, in Victor to John Edward and Sophia Louise Lohman Collum. He was raised in Newburg, graduated from Newburg High School, and during his high school career played in the Iowa State Baseball Tournament.

During World War II he served with the United States Army in the Pacific Theater and was stationed in the Philippines. Following the war he returned home and was married to Betty Belles on February 28, 1948.

From 1948 to 1963 he played major league baseball as a pitcher with the Cardinals, Cubs, Dodgers, Indians and Twins. He was invited to the 1954 All Star game and was later inducted into the Iowa Baseball Hall of Fame. Following his baseball career he worked in the automotive business in Grinnell and was owner of Pioneer Oil in Grinnell prior to his death.

Jack was a member of the Major League Baseball Alumni Association and the Grinnell Eagles Lodge.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Collum of Grinnell; three sons, Tom Collum and Bill Collum, both of Grinnell, and Chris Collum of Cedar Rapids; three daughters, Kathy Locey and Terry Brown, both of Grinnell, and Debbie Gallagher of Lake Mary, Florida; 11 grandchildren; five great grandchildren; two brothers, Ambrose Collum of Grinnell and Larry Collum of Newton; and one sister, Patricia Kester of Grinnell.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Bruce Collum; and two great-grandchildren.