Robert J. Callahan

Robert J. Callahan, 85, passed away on Holy Saturday, April 07, 2007 at 12:08 PM. Survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary Jo (Burkhard) Callahan, and children and their spouses, Dr. Robert J. (Toni) Callahan II of Johnstown, PA.; Margaret A. (Steve) Severson of Cove, AR; William A. (Jill) Callahan of Rockford, IL. and Daniel G. (Mary) Callahan of Kenosha, Wi.; grandchildren, Michelle (Wally) Powers; Robert (Lisa) Callahan III; Joseph Betz; Kathleen Betz; David (Amy) Betz; Nicole (Tim) Weinacht; Matthew Callahan; Margie Callahan; and Matthew Szudajski; great-grandchildren: Robert J Callahan IV, Madison & Shannon Powers; Taylor, Alexja, Gabriel, Olivia, & Amelia Betz; his brother, William (Martha) Callahan of Detroit, MI; his nephew, James Churan of Merced, Ca., and, his brother-in-law John (Betty Lee) Burkhard of Ligonier, PA.; other special relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents James and Rose (Stoltz) Callahan, and his sister Marie Trainia. He was born in Carrollton, Pa on May 24, 1921. Graduated from Carrollton High School, and attended the University of Pittsburgh. He began his service in the US Army in 1941. He was initially sent to camp Pickett, Va and then onto Indianapolis In. for training as a Corpsman. Assigned to Fort Hamilton in N.Y. and served on the Liberty ships Andrew Moore, Water Reed, A. P. Hill, & the Kiasaisko, carrying troops across the Atlantic and POWs on the return trips. He participated in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Anzio, and South France in the ETO during WWII. He crossed the Atlantic eight times during the course of the war, surviving a number of attacks by U-boats on the convoys in which he was serving. During the closing months of the war and afterwards he then served in the Medical Corps at the hospitals of Fort Hamilton N.Y. Aberdeen, Md. and Kickapoo, Md.. His last assignment was Camp Miles Standish in Taunton, Ma., aiding returning troops, where he received an honorable discharge at the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was a long time member of the VFW in both Johnstown, Pennsylvania and Racine, Wisconsin. After the war he worked in insurance a Robert J. Callahan, 85, passed away on Holy Saturday, April 07, 2007 at 12:08 PM. Survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary Jo (Burkhard) Callahan, and children and their spouses, Dr. Robert J. (Toni) Callahan II of Johnstown, PA.; Margaret A. (Steve) Severson of Cove, AR; William A. (Jill) Callahan of Rockford, IL. and Daniel G. (Mary) Callahan of Kenosha, Wi.; grandchildren, Michelle (Wally) Powers; Robert (Lisa) Callahan III; Joseph Betz; Kathleen Betz; David (Amy) Betz; Nicole (Tim) Weinacht; Matthew Callahan; Margie Callahan; and Matthew Szudajski; great-grandchildren: Robert J Callahan IV, Madison & Shannon Powers; Taylor, Alexja, Gabriel, Olivia, & Amelia Betz; his brother, William (Martha) Callahan of Detroit, MI; his nephew, James Churan of Merced, Ca., and, his brother-in-law John (Betty Lee) Burkhard of Ligonier, PA.; other special relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents James and Rose (Stoltz) Callahan, and his sister Marie Trainia. He was born in Carrollton, Pa on May 24, 1921. Graduated from Carrollton High School, and attended the University of Pittsburgh. He began his service in the US Army in 1941. He was initially sent to camp Pickett, Va and then onto Indianapolis In. for training as a Corpsman. Assigned to Fort Hamilton in N.Y. and served on the Liberty ships Andrew Moore, Water Reed, A. P. Hill, & the Kiasaisko, carrying troops across the Atlantic and POWs on the return trips. He participated in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Anzio, and South France in the ETO during WWII. He crossed the Atlantic eight times during the course of the war, surviving a number of attacks by U-boats on the convoys in which he was serving. During the closing months of the war and afterwards he then served in the Medical Corps at the hospitals of Fort Hamilton N.Y. Aberdeen, Md. and Kickapoo, Md.. His last assignment was Camp Miles Standish in Taunton, Ma., aiding returning troops, where he received an honorable discharge at the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was a long time member of the VFW in both Johnstown, Pennsylvania and Racine, Wisconsin. After the war he worked in insurance and advertising sales prior to joining Kenosha Auto Transports in 1950 as an owner/operator. He drove his truck across the United States for approximately 30 years. He drove over 4 million miles without an accident. While at KAT he also served as Chief Steward for Teamsters Local 95 for 11 years. He retired from KAT in 1980. Following a very short retirement he, together with his son Dan, started B & D Equipment and Repair in Sturtevant, Wisconsin and for the next 17 years worked in the lawn and garden business, selling and repairing outdoor power equipment. In 1999 they closed the business and he finally retired. One of the accomplishments of which he was most proud was that all of his children were college graduates, and had multiple post graduate degrees among them. He was a member of both St. Columba Catholic Church in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. At both churches he served as an usher for many years. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 2224 30th Ave., Kenosha, on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 11:00 am. Interment, with military honors, will follow in West Lawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Monday (Tonight) from 5-8 pm and at the church on Tuesday from 10-11 am. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be sent to either: St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 2224 30th Avenue, Kenosha, Wisconsin, 53140 262-551-9004 or Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – All Saints Foundation, Cardiovascular Institute, 1320 Wisconsin Ave. Racine, WI 53403, 262-687-2565 “He will be sadly missed by his family and friends.” nd advertising sales prior to joining Kenosha Auto Transports in 1950 as an owner/operator. He drove his truck across the United States for approximately 30 years. He drove over 4 million miles without an accident. While at KAT he also served as Chief Steward for Teamsters Local 95 for 11 years. He retired from KAT in 1980. Following a very short retirement he, together with his son Dan, started B & D Equipment and Repair in Sturtevant, Wisconsin and for the next 17 years worked in the lawn and garden business, selling and repairing outdoor power equipment. In 1999 they closed the business and he finally retired. One of the accomplishments of which he was most proud was that all of his children were college graduates, and had multiple post graduate degrees among them. He was a member of both St. Columba Catholic Church in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. At both churches he served as an usher for many years. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 2224 30th Ave., Kenosha, on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 11:00 am. Interment, with military honors, will follow in West Lawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Monday (Tonight) from 5-8 pm and at the church on Tuesday from 10-11 am. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be sent to either: St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 2224 30th Avenue, Kenosha, Wisconsin, 53140 262-551-9004 or Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – All Saints Foundation, Cardiovascular Institute, 1320 Wisconsin Ave. Racine, WI 53403, 262-687-2565 “He will be sadly missed by his family and friends.”