Irene Mcculla

Irene McCulla, age 96 of Pella, formerly of Brooklyn, passed away Thursday, October 10, 2024, at Hearthstone, a Wesley Life Community for Healthy Living, in Pella.

A Memorial Service will be held at Grace United Methodist Church in Brooklyn, on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. with Rev. Guylain Yumba and Rev. John Dodds officiating. The family will receive friends from 9 to 11 A.M. Wednesday, at the church, prior to service. Inurnment will be in Brooklyn Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to Grace United Methodist Church in honor of Irene.

Irene was born March 2, 1928, in Thornburg, Iowa, the daughter of Harry Healey and Zola Jack Healey. She graduated from Marengo High School in 1946 as Salutatorian of her class. She attended Iowa State Teachers College, Cedar Falls, Iowa, graduating in 1948. She taught at Washington, Iowa from February to May of 1948 and in Williamsburg from September 1948 to May of 1949. Irene and Ross McCulla were married August 10, 1949, at the First United Methodist Church in Marengo. The couple farmed for many years. Irene served as Assistant Administrator at the Mayflower Home in Grinnell from 1972-1979. The couple lived in Bettendorf for several years, where Irene served as Administrator of the Iowa Masonic Nursing Home, and Ross was Executive Director. They retired in 1989, and returned to the Brooklyn area. In 2003, the couple moved to Seeland Park in Grinnell.

Irene was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She enjoyed attending the many school and church activities and the sporting events of the children, and grandchildren. Irene placed great importance on showing and giving support to her family members and their endeavors. She filled her free time by reading and golfing and collecting Isabel Bloom figurines. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, Grace United Methodist Church in Brooklyn, United Methodist Women, and the Mary Circle. She was a charter member of Brooklyn Activity Center, and also a member of the Grinnell Hospital Auxiliary.

Irene is survived by her children, David and wife Joy of Cedar Rapids, Dennis and wife Linda of Afton, OK, and Greg and wife Barb of Pella; seven grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ross in 2016, a sister Dorothy Kleinmeyer, and a brother Chuck Healey.