Stephen P. McCall

Stephen Patrick McCall was born September 25, 1932 in Worthington, Minnesota, to Walter and Lucille (Ruggless) McCall. He grew up in southern Minnesota and then served in the Air Force during the Korean War and was stationed in Tokyo. After his service Steve attended Buena Vista College and had a successful football career, eventually turning down an offer to try-out for the Baltimore Colts. He then took a semester off from college to live and work at Point Barrow, Alaska, to work on the installation of the DEW (Distant Early Warning) Line, which was set up to detect incoming Soviet bombers during the Cold War. On June 29, 1957, he was united in marriage to Marilyn Gard at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Early, Iowa. He returned to school and finished his degree in history in 1958. Following college, he taught history and coached basketball at St. Joseph's Catholic School in Ashton, Iowa. In 1964, he began teaching and coaching at Bishop Garrigan High School in Algona. Coach McCall compiled over 250 victories and used twice as many toothpicks in 17 years on the court. Later Steve got into the real estate and insurance business and then became co-owner of Stueve Constructio...[more]

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n Algona, retiring in 1996. Steve loved being with his family and especially enjoyed going to his grandchildren's activities. He was well-traveled and was proud of his 13 trips to Ireland with friends and family. He and two of his fellow Irishmen began the annual St. Patrick's Day parade in Algona which is still going strong 30 years later. He also enjoyed golfing, music and working in his yard. Steve had a special love for Bishop Garrigan Schools. He was an active member of St. Cecelia Catholic Church and past member of the Knights of Columbus. Steve was a member of the V.F.W. and proudly attended many Korean War reunions. Stephen P. McCall died Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at the Good Samaritan Society in Algona at the age of 80. He had been a resident there since December 2011. He is survived by his wife Marilyn McCall of Algona; five children all of Algona, Michael (Peg) McCall, Maureen (Walter) Krahenbuhl, Deirdre (Rob) Schultz, Daniel McCall, and Kathleen (Steve) Koob; 13 grandchildren: Henry, Hannah, Shane, Daniel, Luke, Nora, Jeanne, Sarah, Neal, Mariah, Stephen, Myles and Aidan, and two great-grandchildren: Aubreigh and Isaiah. He is also survived by three sisters, Joan Yonkman of Redwood City, CA, Midge Ziegenhagen of Henderson, NV and Mary Lee (Gene) Kleier of Henderson, NV; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Carole Dailey.