Earl Martin McCullough

Earl Martin McCullough passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 25, 2017, after a long illness.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 3209 60th Street, Moline.  Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, May 29, 2017, with a recitation of the rosary at 4 p.m. at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., 6601 38th Avenue, Moline.  Burial will be at the National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal.  Military honors will be conducted by the Moline American Legion Post 246.  Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Earl was born April 2, 1926, in Vail, Iowa, sixth of Hugh and Blanche Freml McCullough’s thirteen children.

He served with the U.S Army’s occupation forces in France during WWII. After discharge, he attended the University of South Dakota, completing his education at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, earning a B.S degree in Metallurgical Engineering. He went to work for Deere & Comp in 1951, working as a Manufacturing Engineer until retirement in 1988.  Earl was a registered professional engineer with the State of Illinois and an active member of numerous professional organizations, often serving in leadership roles. He worked for Deere both internationally and in various facilities in the U. S. While at Deere, he was instrumental in implementing advanced machining technology.

He met his wife, Esther Maria Perez, after church one Sunday and they were married on May 18, 1957 at that same church, St. Mary’s, Moline. He was a charter member of Christ the King Catholic Church, Moline and a member of the Knights of Columbus.  He actively and enthusiastically followed politics and served as the Alderman for the 7th Ward from 1991 – 1995. As a life-long learner, he was an avid reader and was interested in compiling his family’s genealogy.  He also enjoyed gardening, producing beautiful tea roses. As member of the Cornbelt Running Club, Earl won local races well into his 70s.

In addition to his wife Esther, Earl is survived by his daughters Laura (Robert) Pigozzi, of Minneapolis, MN and Alicia (Douglas) Ott, of Gurley, AL; his grandchildren Stephen (Jocelyn) Pigozzi, Michael Pigozzi, Jack Pigozzi, Robert Pigozzi, Patrick Dunn, Nathan (Amanda) Dunn, Samantha (Joshua) Cheesman; great- granddaughter Lexie Shubert; siblings Marilyn Schulte. Kathleen Link. Marie Ranfranz, William McCullough (Sharron Collins); sister-in-law Betty Yancey McCullough; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his siblings: Joseph “Matt” (Dorothy Koisti), Mary (died in infancy), Hugh “Bud” (Maxine Cook), Lyle (Mardell Zerfas), John “Jack” (killed in action), Robert (Marjorie Thomas), Floyd, Lloyd (died in infancy).

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