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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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Sean Callahan
SGT. SEAN F. CALLAHAN
Cedar Rapids
Sgt. Sean F. Callahan, 31,
of Cedar Rapids, died unexpectedly on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. Visitation: 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at Veterans Memorial Building, 50 Second Ave. SE, (Mays Island), Cedar Rapids, with a rosary at 5 p.m. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 27, at Immaculate Conception Church, 857 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Interment with military honors will follow at St John's Cemetery, 1340 17th St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Arrangements are with Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids.
Sean was born June 14, 1985, to John (Gary) and Ruth Callahan of Cedar Rapids. He graduated from Metro High School in 2005. Prior to enlisting in the Army, Sean worked and made lifelong friendships at Alter Metal Recycling, Donutland and at various establishments of equally various tenure, including handling animals for a traveling carnival.
Sean enlisted in the U.S. Army in March 2008, as an M-1 armor crewman, 19K. He deployed in December 2009 to Iraq as part of Operation New Dawn, with the 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Stewart, Ga. Following his re-deployment in December 2010, Sean was reassigned to Fort Irwin, Calif., with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, where he trained units for deployment. Sean's final duty station was Fort Hood, Texas, assigned to III Corps headquarters as the ceremonial flag custodian.
Sean's love of the outdoors was his passion in life and included camping, fishing, canoeing, horseback riding, hunting, trapping, and all manners of weaponry. He took special interest in sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with family and friends.
Sean was preceded in death by his grandparents, John P. and Mary Callahan of Cedar Rapids and Jerome and Catherine Croghan of Manning, Iowa.
Sean is survived by parents, John G. and Ruth of Cedar Rapids; sisters, Tammy of Brooklyn Park, Minn., and Rachel and Claire of Cedar Rapids; brothers, Joseph of West Allis, Wis., Alan of Mason City, Andrew (Elizabeth) and James of Cedar Rapids, 11 nieces and nephews; and many, many dear friends locally, nationally and around the globe.
Sean's impact on those who knew him simply cannot be measured and the absence of his infectious smile and quick wit will be deeply missed by all.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.
Please share your support and memories with Sean's family on his tribute wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries.
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