John R. McCully, Jr, age 85, of Ames, passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2020 at the Israel Family Hospice House.
John was born in Louisville, Mississippi on March 14, 1935 to Raymond and Gertrude (Warner) McCully. He received a BA at Mississippi College, a MA at the University of Mississippi in 18th Century British Literature, a PHD at Rice University in Medieval English Literature, and then studied to become a deacon for the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
While teaching at ISU, John started the Medieval Association of the Midwest Conference and founded and edited their first journal. After retiring as an Emeritus professor, John became the Vocational Awareness Director for the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Most of his retirement years were spent as a full-time Catholic deacon at St. Cecilia Church in Ames, where he and his wife, Ruth, started a Hispanic Ministry.
John is survived by his wife, Ruth; children: Joy Burianek (Mark), Suzanne Ignaszak (Robert), John David McCully (Tom Marchesiello); extended family Karen and Terry Burianek;
Grandchildren: Christine, Anthony, Paul, and Rachel Burianek; David and Victoria Ignaszak, and Steve (Lisa) and Tim Burianek; and one sister, Jackie McCully Lee Miller.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.adamssoderstrum.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Saint Cecilia-Hispanic Ministry Fund, Catholic Charities of Dubuque, or the American Cancer Society. Memorial contributions in honor of John may also be directed to the Northcrest Foundation, 1801 20th Street, Ames, Iowa 50010.