James M. Callahan

James M. Callahan, 78, of Garner passed away Sunday, September 13, 2026 at Prairie View Apartments in Garner.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 11 am to 1 pm, Friday, October 16, 2026 in the Sunset Room at Prairie View Apartments in Garner.

James Michael Callahan, the son of Nicholas and Ione (Tapp) Callahan, was born on October 19, 1947 in Waseca, Minnesota. He graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1965. Jim served his country during Vietnam and after 27 years of military services retired from the US Army. On April 7, 1969 he married Mona McKnight in Waukegan, Illinois. They raised their family abroad living in Thailand, Italy, Germany and various military bases in the United States. In 1988, Jim retired from the military, and he and Mona moved to Kentucky, in 1992 to Iowa and later to Arizona. After Mona passed away in 2021, Jim moved back to Iowa to be near family. He enjoyed fishing in Arizona, drinking coffee and playing cards with friends at Prairie View and going to casinos.

He was a lifetime member of the Clear Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Jim is survived by his four children, Ramona Beiswanger of Mankato, MN, Jamie (Gary) Bratten of Britt, Amy Callahan and her significant other, Keith Graczyk, of Garner and Troy Callahan of Britt; five grandchildren, Beth Beiswanger, Cody (Jenny) Bratten, Aaron Bratten, Dillon Bratten and Christopher Harris; great grandchildren, Luna, Tyler and Abigail Bratten; three sisters, Rose Ann (Rodney) Olsen of Albert Lea, MN, Ilene (Terry) Hammond of Clear Lake and Marie (Tim) Marden of Apple Valley, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mona; and sister, Sharon Groe.