Obituary of Neal R. MacCallum

Neal R. MacCallum, 84, of Montgomery St., Rouses Point passed away peacefully Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at his home. He was born in Rouses Point, NY February 25, 1928 a son of the late Warren and Vera (Hoag) MacCallum. Neal spent his early childhood years on the family farm in Noyan, PQ, prior to his father's passing in 1934 when his mother then moved the family back to Rouses Point, NY. At 17 years of age, with his mother's permission, he enlisted with the US NAVY and served as a deckhand on the supply ship, USS Castor, in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. Upon his return to Rouses Point, Neal went to work for D&H Railroad, where he worked for 42 years, retiring as Yardmaster in 1990. On October 17, 1949 he married Marian "Irish" Bohon of Churubusco at St. Philomena's Roman Catholic Church. The couple raised five children during their nearly 41 years of marriage. He mourned her loss on May 22, 1990. Neal was an avid hunter and was a founding member of both the Rouses Point Sportsmen's Club and the Five Pointers Club. He and his brother patrolled the Ross Park in Paul Smith's, NY for 52 years until Leo's illness in 2003. He was also a member of the American Legion Montgomery Post #912 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8722. His loving family includes his five children, Patricia McMonigal and husband Larry of Panama City, FL, Neal MacCallum and wife, Deb of Sparta, Wis., Melissa Baker and husband Francis of Rouses Point, NY, Daniel MacCallum and Juanita Barcomb of Rouses Point, and Mary Passno and husband, Steven of Rouses Point, his grandchildren, Jon (Sri) Reed, Dr. Julia MacCallum (Scott Buck), Sarah MacCallum, Laura MacCallum, Emily MacCallum, Caitlin Keefe, Nathan MacCallum, Jarrod Passno and Matthew Passno, step-grandchildren Allen MacMonigal, Dean Baker (Clare Santos), Sherri Baker, and Tammy Baker (Gerald Peete), and a sister Jacqueline O'Brien and husband Alfred. Six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive. In addition to his parents and his wife, Neal was preceded in death by his step-father Truman Murray, his brothers Leo and Robert MacCallum, and a sister Faye (Girard) Gregoire. Calling Hours will be from 2:00 to 5:00 pm on Sunday, June 17, 2012 at M.B. Clark Funeral Home, 148 Lake St., Rouses Point, NY. Funeral Services will be at 11:00 am on Monday, June 18th, at Three Steeples United Methodist Church, Route 11, Champlain, NY with Rev. Steve Loan, pastor, officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery, Rouses Point, NY. Family and friends are invited to gather for continued fellowship and refreshments at the church following the burial. Contributions in Neal's memory may be made to Three Steeples United Methodist Church or to the Rouses Point Rescue Squad in care of the funeral home.