Gerald D. 'Cal' Calhoun 1936 - 2020

CALHOUN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 2/11/2021 at 10:03:48

Sioux City Journal
3 January 2021

Gerald D. 'Cal' Calhoun

Sioux City

Gerald D. "Cal" Calhoun, 84, of Sioux City, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020.

Services will be 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sioux City, with Father Terry Roder officiating. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, with full military honors. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. The Vigil Service and Funeral Mass will both be live streamed. Links to view the services are available under Cal's obituary at meyerbroschapels.com.

Cal was born in Sioux City, Iowa, on Dec. 7, 1936, to Vincent and Francis "Polly" Calhoun. He graduated from Heelan High School in 1955. Cal received a band scholarship to attend Morningside College and then was called upon to play on the football team.

He was recruited by the Baltimore Colts. However, he chose to join the U.S. Air Force for nine years which included a tour of duty in Okinawa. After being honorably discharged he continued his service with the 185th Fighter Wing for several years.

Cal was employed as an engineer at KCAU, KMEG and was the Chief Engineer at KBCM and KWIT until establishing Calhoun Communications, Inc. in 1978.

Cal was a highly respected engineer in the broadcasting industry and was responsible for installing, maintaining and repairing radio and TV stations all over the US. Locally Cal was instrumental in the design and construction of KMEG, KBCM, KWIT, WNAX and KVHT. A lifetime dream of Cal, Father Harold Cooper, and determined lay members was to build a Catholic Radio Station in Sioux City.

After 20 years of hard work, St. Gabriel Catholic Radio Station KFHC went on the air Feb. 5, 2008. He was also the lead engineer that developed the first fixed wireless network in the country for Data Transmission Networks based out of Omaha. Cal was owner of KGSB radio station in Tremonton, Utah. He was an active member of the National Association of Broadcasters, which he was asked to speak at on several occasions.

Cal was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church where he served on the Parish Council, taught CCD, and was a member of The Legion of Mary. He served on the Sacred Heart School Board and was responsible for getting the first uniform dress code in place for the students. His faith was very important to him as he prayed the rosary daily.

Cal was known for his love of animals having at any one time four to five cats, plus feeding raccoons, squirrels, possums, rabbits, birds, and even mice.

Cal is survived by his wife, Norma; daughter, Debbie (Max) Delaney of McCook Lake; daughter, Julie (Todd) Ballantyne of Fruit Heights, Utah; son, Tony (Tena) Carpenter of North Sioux City; son, Jim (Joan) Calhoun of Moore, Okla.; son, Jerry (Lorraine) Calhoun of Eagan, Minn.; daughter, Kay (Phil) Abbe of Sioux City; and daughter, Jodi (Carl) Beaver of Yukon, Okla.; 22 grandchildren; and 21 great- grandchildren. Surviving siblings include sisters, Marijo (Jerry) Butler of West Des Moines, Iowa, Eleanor Drey of Spring Park, Minn.; brothers, Dick (Susan) Calhoun of Green Bay, Wis., Bob (Rachel) Calhoun of Overland Park, Kan., and John (Beth) Calhoun of Polk City, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Vince and Polly Calhoun; brother, Jim Calhoun; grandson, Daniel Boone; son-in-law, Max Delaney; daughter-in-law, Joan Calhoun; and nephew, Rick Calhoun.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Siouxland Humane Society.