Patrick J Callahan

Patrick J. Callahan, Sr. was born on March 18, 1933 to John and Anna Callahan in Chicago, Illinois. Pat passed away peacefully March 14, 2023, just shy of his 90th birthday.

In 1959, Pat met Barbara McDonnell and they were married the same year. After initially residing in Peoria, they settled in La Grange Park to raise their family on bustling Spring Avenue among lifelong friends from the neighborhood and their parish, St. Francis Xavier. In their 63 years together, their family has grown to include their six children; Patrick (Lisa) Callahan, Colleen Callahan, Therese (Jeff) Stoppenbach, Catherine (Tom) Isaacson, Margaret (John) Hall, and John (Robin) Callahan, and many cherished grandchildren; Shane (Allison) Callahan, Tom Callahan, Katie Callahan, Amanda Phenegar, Wes (Bridget) Phenegar, Melissa (Tim) Phenegar, Sean Phenegar, Lindsay (Paul) Ewing, Kelly Isaacson, Michael Callahan, Meredith Callahan, Matthew Callahan, and great-grandchildren; Will Ewing, Joey Ewing, and Frances Callahan. Pat was one of five children growing up on Chicago's west side on La Porte Avenue, in a house containing multiple Callahan families. His brothers and sisters are the late John (late Rosemary) Callahan, the late Joseph (late Shirley) Callahan, Maurice (Yvonne) Callahan, and Mary Rita (late James) Joyce.

Pat graduated from Lewis University in Romeoville and served proudly in the United States Marine Corps. He was a much celebrated and awarded basketball player for both Lewis University and the USMC at Quantico and Camp Pendleton. Pat coached basketball at Spalding High School in Peoria, as well as at St. Joseph High School in Westchester, and later entered the field of robotics and fabrication.

Pat's love of camping began in his youth, and he instilled that love of outdoors, campfires, boating and beaches in his children, taking them on weeks-long summer trips around the Midwest. Eventually, that love was brought to many wonderful family gatherings at our home-away-from-home at Bass Lake. His love of games was legendary - building them, playing them, teaching them - with cribbage among his favorites. Pat genuinely loved tinkering and building with wood, with many treasured items among his children's possessions.

Visitation will be held Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 9:30 am in Unity Hall at St. Francis Xavier Church, 124 North Spring Avenue, in La Grange, Illinois, with Mass in the church following at 11:00 am. Pat will be laid to rest with military honors in a private ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery on April 14, 2023.

Pat's trinity was family, faith, and service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either St. Francis Xavier Church, 124 North Spring Avenue, La Grange, Illinois 60525, or to the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Squad, P.O. Box 6, Elwood, Illinois 60421.