Michael E. Sullivan

The journey of life for Michael Edward Sullivan began on May 10, 1946, in Marshalltown, Iowa. Mike was the second of three children who were born to Edward and Doris Lucille Brace Sullivan. While his father served as a high school band director, Mike attended various schools and graduated from Mt. Ayr High School in Mt. Ayr, Iowa with the Class of 1964. During high school Mike took pride in being a tuba player with the band and a member of the football, wrestling, and track teams. He threw the hammer and the shot put and was a member of Mt. Ayr’s State Track Team, a record which held until 2014. Mike was a heavy weight lifter and served as a body building judge. He enjoyed physical fitness, bicycling and competitive racewalking and later participated in RAGBRAI. His success on the track field continued as he led the Central College Women’s Cross Country and Track Team at Pella, Iowa to a NCAA Division III National Championship in 1981. Later, he coached the men’s and women’s track and cross country teams at William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Mike continued to volunteer and coach multiple young people to attain their goals in track and field and was named as an Outstanding Meet Director for Iowa AAU/USA Junior Olympic Track and Field Meets. Following his high school graduation, Mike attended Marshalltown Community College at Marshalltown, Iowa and was inducted into the United States Army in June, 1966 and was stationed in Germany. Following his discharge, Mike enrolled at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he pursued journalism and began working in the emergency room at Iowa Methodist Hospital. In 1969, Mike and Connie E. Terpstra were united in marriage and to this union two children were born: Robert Edward and Heidi Marie. Mike’s experiences in the U.S. Army along with the emergency room led him to find fulfillment in helping in various funeral homes throughout central Iowa and in particular the Biersborn Funeral Home in Union, Iowa. He formed Sullivan Funeral Transport, and his desire to become a funeral director remained a lifelong aspiration. In 1972, he and his family moved to Pella, Iowa, where he began selling office supplies for Forbes Office Supply in Newton, Iowa. He eventually started his own business known as Sullivan Office Essentials.

In 1994, Mike and Patricia Elaine McKinley Whitlatch became life long partners. Mike and Pat made their home together in Knoxville, Iowa. Mike was very proud of Pat. While he gracefully coped with his multiple health issues, Pat made it possible for him to continue to reside at home. Mike was a loyal companion and loved keeping in touch with his multitude of friends from high school to college to the present. Taking great pride in his grandchildren and their musical accomplishments, Mike faithfully attended their activities as long as his health permitted. On Saturday evening, October 11, 2014, Mike succumbed to his physical ailments at the Knoxville Area Community Hospital in Knoxville, Iowa at the age of 68 years. He leaves his partner, Pat Whitlatch of Knoxville and her son, Mark Aaron McKinley Whitlatch and his wife, Devin, of Prescott, Arizona; his son, Robbie Sullivan and his partner, Heather, of Pella, Iowa and his children: Tory, Alexander, Nathaniel, Annastasia, Emrielle; his daughter, Heidi and her husband, David Lyons of Pella, Iowa and their children: Karah, Kaleb, Khloe and Kyrie; his brother, Bill Sullivan and his wife, Ann, of Coralville, Iowa; and his sister, Jane Sullivan of Des Moines, Iowa. He further leaves Donna Miller and Lee of Conroe, Texas, Marlene Edwards and Jerry, Becky McCollun and Dave of Chariton, Iowa; along with extended family and many friends. Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Doris Sullivan; and a grandson, Anthony Sullivan. Mike took pride in his children; loved his feline friends, Skeezix and Girlie; was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs, as well as the Iowa Hawkeyes and sprint car racing. He was well read, had an incredible memory, adept in journalism, and enjoyed all music, from jazz, to opera to gospel.