David T. ‘Dave’ McCulley, age 81, of Toolesboro, rural Wapello, died Monday, January 5, 2015 at the Wapello Nursing & Rehab Center in Wapello. He was born December 22, 1933 near Grandview. Dave was next to the youngest of seven boys and the son of Glen R. and Ruth Cockerill McCulley. He attended Indian Creek Country School in Louisa County through eighth grade and graduated from Columbus Junction High School in 1951. In 1954 he joined the US Army. He served in Germany and was discharged in May of 1956.
On August 11, 1956, he was united in marriage to Beverly J. Anderson at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They started married life farming with his father until 1962 when they moved to Oakville. For 37 years he managed the feed mill at Oakville Feed & Grain, through fire and high water. It is now Tri Oak Foods.
Dave was a long time member of the Oakville United Methodist Church, served on the Oakville Town Council, and for many years as treasurer of Boy Scout Troop #57.
He became an accomplished wood carver, and later enjoyed his greenhouse.
With his wife they traveled all 48 states and Canada, many more than once, until Parkinson’s made traveling impossible.
His family includes his wife, Beverly, one son, Scott McCulley of Wapello; two daughters, Cindy & David Brown of Hazel Green, Wisconsin and Debbie & Jay Stephens of Vail, Arizona; nine grandchildren, Amanda Budde, Maggie Mau, Abbie Daly, Brian Brown, Cory Stephens, Andrew Stephens, Jon Stephens, Casey McCulley, and Delainey McCulley; six great grandchildren; five brothers, Dean & Letha McCulley of Columbus Junction, Glen J. & Vivian McCulley of Columbus Junction, Elvin & Beverly McCulley of Tempe, Arizona, George McCulley of Muscatine, and Welton ‘Bill’ McCulley of Muscatine. He was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Ruth; brother, John McCulley; sisters-in-law, Jean, Virginia, and Marilyn; and a brother and sister in infancy.
The funeral ceremony for Dave McCulley will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, January 9, 2015, at the Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home in Wapello with Rev. Sue-Ellen Sherman officiating. Burial will follow at the Edwards Cemetery in Oakville.
The family will meet friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Thursday at the Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home. A Memorial Fund has been established for the benefit of the Oakville Rescue Unit and the Wapello Rescue Unit.
Condolences may be given and viewed at www.dudgeonmcculley.com.
