Thomas Cullen

Thomas G. Cullen, a 78-year-old resident of Ankeny, Iowa, passed away on November 19, 2025, at Sunny View Care Center in Ankeny, Iowa.
Services will be held at Egelhof, Siegert, and Casper Funeral Home and Crematory in Dubuque, Iowa. Visitation will be scheduled for Friday, November 21, from 10 am to 12 pm. The service will begin at 12 pm at the funeral home, followed by a burial with military honors at Linwood Cemetery.
Click here to view the livestream of the memorial service: https://vimeo.com/1139086158?share=copy
Click here to view the livestream of the military honors and committal service: https://vimeo.com/1139086833?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
Born on September 21, 1947, in Dubuque, Iowa, Thomas was the son of Kenneth G. and Joyce O. (Evarts) Cullen. He married Sandra J. (Meyer) Cullen on January 21, 1967, at Immanuel Congregational Church. He graduated from Dubuque Senior High School in 1966.
Thomas served in the Navy from 1966 to 1970, during which he completed two tours of duty in Vietnam while assigned to a destroyer. As a helmsman and lookout, he performed duties on the gun line. Additionally, during non-combat periods, he served as the sole postal clerk on the ship, managing all post office functions. He served on three different ships: the USS Renshaw, USS Sterett (where he was the commissioning plankowner in 1967), and USS Bronstein. During his military service, Tom and Sandy resided in California, Hawaii, and Washington State before returning to Dubuque, Iowa, to raise their family.
Thomas worked at Carr, Adams, and Colliers for three years, specializing in window frame manufacturing. He retired from John Deere after 28 years as a Geometric Modeling Technician and Draftsman, primarily working on backhoes. In addition to his main job, he held various part-time positions and drove for Hartig's.
He was an avid fan of his favorite professional football team, the Indianapolis Colts. He also followed the LA Dodgers and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Additionally, he supported the ISU Cyclones, where his son attended school, and the UNI Panthers, where his daughter went to school. Throughout the years, Tom dedicated himself to helping family, friends, and neighbors in various ways. He actively participated in church activities and supported his children's school events. Family remained his top priority until the very end of his life.
Thomas is survived by his son, Patrick (Renee) Cullen; his daughter, Corissa (Gabe) Thompson; his five grandchildren, Shayla, Riley, Alayna, Cullen, and Stella; his great-granddaughter Nova; and numerous other family members.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Joyce (Evarts) Cullen, his wife Sandra J. (Meyer) Cullen, his brother David Cullen, and his brother Richard Cullen, who passed away at birth.
For more information, please visit: www.egelhofsiegertcasper.com.
A Thomas George Cullen Memorial Fund has been established in his memory.