John Neal Sullivan

John Neal Sullivan

Winthrop

John “Jack” Sullivan, formerly of Winthrop, Iowa died peacefully Sunday, December 29, 2024 at The Gardens of Columbine in Littleton, Colorado at the age of 86.

A visitation will be held on Friday, January 10, 2025 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at St Patrick’s Parish Hall with a funeral service at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Winthrop, Iowa at 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch at the church hall. Burial at 2:30 p.m. at Oakland Cemetery, Manchester, Iowa.

Jack was born on September 11, 1938 in Independence, Iowa to Howard and Marguerite (Smith) Sullivan of Ryan, Iowa. He graduated from Randalia High School in 1956 and attended Upper Iowa College in Fayette, Iowa where he received his bachelor's degree in Biology as part of the class of 1960. Jack obtained his master’s degree in Biology in 1972 from the University of Iowa. Additionally, he did graduate work at the University of California Berkeley, Kansas State University, Penn State University, and Ball State University.

Jack met Mary Delancey while they attended Upper Iowa, they were married in 1959. After graduation they taught school in Calamus, Iowa and moved to Winthrop, Iowa in 1962 where he taught high school science at East Buchanan High School until he retired in 1996. Outside of education he had many varied interests including toy tractor collecting, bird watching, wood carving, drawing, genealogy, bicycling and spending time with his grandkids.

Jack’s Catholic faith was an important part of his life. He taught religious education at St Patrick’s Church and served as a lector. He was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Patrick’s and St. Francis Cabrini and was a regular volunteer at church events and fund raisers.

Jack served as a Buchanan County Soil Commissioner for 20 years and was appointed as a member of the State of Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Board.

Above all, family was everything to him. Jack is survived by his wife of sixty-five years, Mary, and their five children: Carol Mowery, Kennewick, Washington, Marie May, Dandridge, Tennessee, Neal (Stephanie) Sullivan, Littleton, Colorado, Pat (Don) Handel, Arlington Heights, Illinois, Colleen (John) Schumacher, Urbandale, Iowa, eleven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and three sisters, Emily (Ray) Card, Crystal Lake, IL, Sheila Rose, Central City, Iowa, and Margaret (Don) Ream, Westminster, Colorado. He is preceded in death by his parents, infant grandson Blair Pettit, and brother-in-law Lyle Rose.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.