Dan A. McCullough

Dan A. McCullough, 77, of Roanoke, IL passed away on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at Carle Bromenn Medical Center in Normal, IL.
He was born to Fred and Mary Meister McCullough on December 20, 1947 in Washington, IL. He grew up at his family's ancestral farm west of Metamora, IL.
He attended St Mary's Catholic School and graduated from Metamora High School.
Dan lived in the Metamora and Roanoke area for most of his life. He leaves a large family with wonderful memories of his life.
Dan had many jobs over his lifetime. He worked at McCullough Disposal, at Doering Auto on the parts counter and a salesman. He also became an engine machinist and worked for NAPA Auto in Metamora, then in the shipping departments at Parsons Manufacturing and Miller Welding.
He met his present wife Michele Moritz McCullough in 1988. They were married on June 11, 1993 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the steps of the Juneau Ave Harley Davidson plant during it's 90th anniversary of Harley celebration. The nuptials were filmed by NBC and shown on many network and cable channels around the world. They had and amazing life together raising their family and taking many motorcycle trips on their Harleys.
Dan's life changed for the better in 1995 when he and his wife decided to follow Jesus as their Lord and savior. Friends and family were astonished at the radical change in his life and temperament. He loved reading his bible and showed the kindness of the Lord to everyone through his life and his actions. He served in ministry at the Pekin Federal Prison as his churches team had monthly services for inmates.
In 2002, when their six children were grown Dan and Michele decided to foster two profoundly handicapped children. They adopted JT and Shonna and never looked back. Dan learned to do everything to care for his new children. That included ventilators, blood pressures, feeding tubes and all of their numerous medications. He was a unicorn in the special needs parenting community as a father who did it all. It was also another visible change that Jesus brought in Dan.
Working hard with joy was what Dan did best. He always showed the joy of the Lord in his face. Whenever someone asked him how he was he said "I'm blessed", and he was. He was dedicated to his family, everything he did was for them. He would also help anyone he knew in need. He didn't put himself first. He always wanted to help others if he could. He considered all of the children as his own and treated them that way. Whenever a need came up for his friends or family he did his best to fix it or fill that need. If it was car repair or shipping an antique wardrobe or an electric car charger to Seattle, he did it.
He taught his family all how to care for the things in their lives. He taught them what true service looks like as we watched him care for Michele, for Jon and Shonna, and for the farm, which he did very diligently every day until he literally couldn't. He raised his children to become responsible, loving adults who could troubleshoot their problems. His children and grandchildren remember all of the time he invested in them, taking them to workshops and teaching them different skills, from fixing things to handling firearms and archery equipment safely.
In 2004 the Parson's Tornado destroyed their homestead. With God's help and a lot of help from friends and family, Dan went immediately to work preparing the site for a new home. Michele started building a home with Homeway Homes. Dan could build or fabricate almost anything. He worked night and day and in five months they were moving into a brand new home built especially for their special children's care. That was God's miracle.
He loved building diesel trucks, mowing his three acres, raising goats and planting more trees for the pasture. He installed 60 solar panels in his side yard from scratch, complete with swivel frames and installing a battery room in his barn. He also bought a wind turbine to make green energy, and it makes a lot of energy. He also was an avid train watcher, model train builder, "Red Green" and "Rumpole of the Bailey".
Serving in the Air Force National Guard and USAF, he was a member of the Governors' 20 shooting team. He served over 18 years and won awards for his service. He served in the HQ of the first Global Yankee, for which he received a commendation. He excelled as a training instructor for the TACP/ROMAD unit at the Peoria ANG and helped them attain 2nd place in the World Completion against 200 units, many of them full time soldiers.
He had two sisters, Debra Hurley and Dixie Kaufman, and four brothers Dennis, Doug, Dean and Daryl.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Dixie Kauffman and a brother Dean McCullough.
He had two children Bo Ryan McCullough and Deirdre Hayes both of East Peoria, four step-children, Benni Sack of Tacoma, WA, Erik Jochums of Corona, CA, Stephanie Fannin of Charleston, IL, and Matthew Jochums of Auburn, IL, and two adopted special needs children JT and Shonna McCullough who live at home. He also had many grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom he adored.
Cremation rites have been accorded. A Memorial Service will be held in June, 2025 to honor Dan. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Roanoke Municipal Ambulance Department, 101 Main Street, Roanoke, IL 61561 or to As Our Own, who rescues vulnerable children from extreme poverty and certain exploitation and to protect, empower, love and care for each child, not as an orphan but as our own daughters for life, at www.asourown.org/donate-today. Online condolences at www.masonfuneralhomes.com.
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