John A Culligan M.D.

Culligan, John A. M.D.
age 86
of Mendota Heights
JOHN A. CULLIGAN, M.D. was born on October 21, 1926 and passed away peacefully on June 24, 2013 at age 86. The eldest son of Dr. John M. "Jack" and Margaret (McGovern) Culligan, of St. Paul, he was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Robert E., Dr. David E. and very recently F. Joseph. He is survived by his wife of 60 years Sheila (Spriggs), children John (Nancy), Kathleen, Sheila, Thomas (Carol), Elizabeth (Albert) Maruggi, Shannon (Philip) Rode, Paul (Anne) and grandchildren John and Courtney Culligan; Megan Culligan; Albert, Mary, Ellen, Edward and Margaret Maruggi; Sam and Max Rode; and Joseph Culligan. He is also survived by sisters Molly Culligan and Margaret Culligan, sisters-in-law Nancy Culligan, Betty Culligan and Molly Culligan, and a large extended family. Dr. Culligan graduated from St. Luke's Grade School and St. Thomas Military Academy '44. He enlisted and was selected for the U.S. Navy V-12 Program for accelerated pre-medical training at the University of Notre Dame '46. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School '50 and served as a ship's surgeon aboard USS Valley Forge during the Korean War. He completed his surgical residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Dr. Culligan enjoyed a long, successful private practice with his brother Dr. David E. Culligan, in St. Paul. He was instrumental in building a cardiac surgery specialty at St. Joseph's Hospital and was a Clinical Professor of Surgery at the U of M. He completed his distinguished career at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. Dr. Culligan was a gifted physician, beloved by all who knew him or came under his care. He was a voracious reader with a quick wit. Always a gentleman, he was a loving husband, father and grandfather.
Dr. Culligan truly lived his faith. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 AM Monday July 1, 2013 at the CHURCH of the ASSUMPTION, 51 7th Street West, St. Paul. Visitation 4 pm to 8 pm Sunday June 30th at the O'HALLORAN & MURPHY Snelling Ave. Chapel, 575 S. Snelling Avenue, St. Paul 651/698-0796 Interment Resurrection Cemetery. The family would like to thank Caryn with Home Instead and Ann and the caregivers at HealthEast Hospice for their loving service. Memorials preferred to the Little Sisters of the Poor, to the Culligan Family Scholarship Fund at St. Thomas Academy, or to donor's choice.