Joan M. McCullough

In Loving Memory of Joan Mildred McCullough

July 8, 1936 – November 1, 2025

Joan Mildred McCullough, age 89, of Forest Lake, Minnesota, passed away peacefully surrounded by family. She was born on July 8, 1936, in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Walter and Mildred Gruenhagen, who made her feel cherished every single day. An only child, she often said she never felt alone because she was so loved by her parents and the close-knit family around her.

After finishing 8th grade, she began working at Straus Knitting Mills, where she took great pride in her work, she really enjoyed it. It was during those early years that she met the love of her life, D. LeRoy “Buster” McCullough because of her uncle who was also a well driller like Buster. Together they built a beautiful life filled with laughter, love, world travels, and family until Buster passed away 27 years ago.

Buster affectionately called her “Mouse,” a nickname that came from her soft voice that sometimes squeaked when she spoke. In the mid-1980s, he gave her a gold chain with a tiny gold mouse charm—something she cherished deeply and wore every single day until she passed.

Even after moving to Forest Lake in 1972, St. Paul was always her home at heart. She was known for waking up and making her way around the city to find the best bread, meat, and bakery treats—never forgetting a stop at the Summit Dairy on her way back home. She would also drive to all of the cheese factories in Wisconsin in search of the freshest cheeses and was saddened as, one by one, they slowly closed over the years. She loved to entertain, always welcoming friends like Mark & Joyce Sinn, Don and Nancy Chilson to a game of cards along with great food, a perfect cocktail (frozen margaritas, Grasshoppers, Brandy Alexanders, and a “dirty” gin martini) and her amazing laugh that would make us all laugh along with her!

She enjoyed her extra-large garden with Audrey Cardinal and still had a smaller one up until this year. She always had multiple decks of cards, hidden in every drawer and in the cushions of the couch. She would be at the kitchen table or sitting on the floor by the wall heater playing solitaire up until last December. She was part of card clubs for years and would play in different restaurants for hours so they could enjoy a good meal and hot coffee. In the midst of her busy, full life, she always made time for her grandchildren—teaching us to ice skate, ride a bike, snow ski at Snowcrest, and taking us on adventures to Disney World, Epcot, and through the Elroy-Sparta Tunnel Bike Trail year after year. She especially loved her yearly strawberry picking and apple orchard visits with her grandchildren—simple traditions that became some of our sweetest memories. We all had a better childhood because of her joy in life, and her love of spending time with us.

She never wanted attention or focus on herself, and she enjoyed each day to the fullest. Give her an EXTRA hot cup of coffee and a great lunch, and she was completely content. As the years went by, she was saddened to have outlived her large group of friends and eventually decided she wouldn’t attend any more funerals, saying with a smile, “They won’t be coming to mine.”

Her closest and dearest friend, Hildegard Johnson, remained by her side to the very end. Joan was deeply grateful for their rides through the countryside, their pit stops at little shops, and their breakfasts and lunches at “somewhere good.”

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Mildred Gruenhagen, and her beloved husband, LeRoy “Buster” McCullough.

She is survived by her three sons:

Robert Dean McCullough (Lynn)

David Lee (Darla) McCullough

          Rachel Grandgenett- Mason (Jessica) Channing & Royce, Maddelynn, McKinnley, Makiiya, Montanna and Millicent.

          David (Tara) McCullough II -David III “Tripp”, Nicole, Elizabeth, Kathryn.

          Dan (Miranda) McCullough -Kaiden and Hunter.

          Rebecca McCullough - Landen, Jamison, Adriana and Jackson.

James Marquis McCullough (Donna Schipper)

          Amy (Andy) McDaniel- Sawyer and Noah.

          Jeff (Lindsay) Schipper- Josie, Leo and Joe.

          Summer (Joe) Tierney- James.

Debbie (Randy) Schultz

          Angie (Doug) Dickey- Derek (Haley) Bobby, Clay & Lois. Summer (Justin), Parker (Madison) and baby on the way, Olivia (Ivan).

          Marc (Jen) McCullough- Isla and Nash.

Joan didn’t love having flowers in her home, she preferred to see them planted outside where they could grow and bring joy all season long. In her later years, many people anonymously bought her lunch—fourteen times, to be exact—and each act of kindness touched her deeply. In her honor, the family encourages you to do the same: buy a meal for someone who may be sitting alone, just as others did for her or make a charitable donation.

Service

Please join us at Hosanna Lutheran Church at 10:00 a.m. for a visitation, 11:00 a.m. service, and 11:30 a.m. “Lunch with Joan.” You are welcome to attend the burial right after lunch at Evergreen Memorial Gardens