Curran, John J. 1923-2007

CURRAN, GALLAGHER, SCHMITZ

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 2/23/2014 at 15:24:48

The Brooklyn (IA) Chronicle
Aug. 22, 2007

JOHN J. CURRAN, 83

God wrapped his arms around John J. Curran and lifted him peacefully to heaven on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2007 with his family at his side. You could almost hear John's favorite song - Danny Boy - "The pipes, the pipes are calling, from glen to glen, and down the mountain side, The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying, 'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide."

John was born in Grinnell, on Nov. 11, 1923, to John J. and Anna Gallagher Curran. The farm he was raised on near Guernsey has been in his family since 1853. The original portion of the farm was homesteaded by his grandfather, John J. Curran. The farm continued to stay in the Curran family as John's father, also a John J., inherited the land. After John's father's passing, the farm continued to be operated by John throughout his life.

John's love of baseball continued from childhood into middle adulthood, where he played amateur softball. His family traveled to small towns around the area to watch him play ball in the evenings. His love of baseball developed into John being an avid major league baseball fan.

He fulfilled a wish to visit the Curran and Gallagher homesteads in County Donegal in 1969, when he traveled with his family to Ireland.

John will be forever missed by sisters, Eileen Schmitz and Sr. Marjorie Curran. He will be lovingly remembered by his nieces, Patricia Schmitz and Kathleen Schmitz; nephews, Ronald Schmitz and Larry (Sandy) Schmitz; many great-nieces and great-nephews; other relatives; a host of friends; and his beloved cat, Tommy.

A funeral mass was held at St. Patrick's Church in Brooklyn at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 16. John was baptized at St. Patrick's and spent his life as a parishioner. Rev. Brian Shepley officiated. The musician was Marilyn Kriegel and the soloist was Bonnie Beck. Casket-bearers were Brian Baustian, Bryan Beaderstadt, Steve Beck, Pat Gallagher, Gary Kriegel, and Dave Stout. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery, Brooklyn. A vigil service was held on Wednesday, Aug. 15, at the Nevenhoven Funeral Home.