Donald "Runt" McCulley, 95, of Brooklyn and formerly of Keswick, died Saturday, June 26, 2010 at the Brooklyn Community Estates with his beloved wife by his side. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at the Harden Funeral Chapel in What Cheer. Interment will follow at the Sixteen Cemetery near Thornburg. Visitation will begin at noon on Monday with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Memorial contribution may be made to the family.

Donald James McCulley was born on September 24, 1914 near Thornburg, IA the son of John and Catherine Capehart McCulley. He was the fifth child of fourteen children. He attended the Greenview country school and later graduated from the Gibson High School in 1934. Donald was united in marriage to Elaine Furney on June 27, 1955 at the Methodist Church in Unionville, MO. In 1945 he began managing his family's farm while caring for his ailing parents. Donald remained on the farm until 2002, when he and his wife moved to the Brooklyn Senior Apartments. He enjoyed watching traffic under his shade tree, Lawrence Welk on Saturday nights; many fishing trips to Minnesota and Canada and telling stories of the past to his family and friends.

Donald is preceded in death by his parents, seven brothers: Vernon, Marvin, William, Kenneth, David, Harlan and Rassie McCulley (infant); three sisters: Elizabeth Acord, Margaret Sampson and Catherine McCulley (infant);three sisters-in-law: Lena, Marlys, Elsie McCulley; four brothers-in-law: Harry Acord, Francis Williams, Marvin Sampson and Jack James; as well as a nephew, Richard McCulley and niece, Neva Allen.

He is survived by his wife, Elaine of Brooklyn; two daughters, Glenda (Fred) Griffith of Brooklyn and Connie (Raymond) Thompson of Montezuma; a brother, Robert McCulley, Sr. of Brooklyn; two sisters, Jean Williams of Barnes City and Helen James of New Sharon; four sisters-in-law, Margaret, Barbara, Marie and Barbara McCulley; eight grandchildren: Tina Widmer, Sara Alexander, Tami Foubert, Rodney Morse, Jake Thompson, Crystal Griffith, Chance Griffith and Trixy Petsche. Donald also leaves behind thirteen great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.