Obituary of Max M. Ullom

Max M. Ullom, 83, longtime resident of Iowa City died Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics following a courageous battle with COPD and congestive heart failure. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Monday, April 14, 2014, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 pm on Sunday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service. Graveside services will be held at 1pm on Tuesday at the Greenwood Cemetery in Nashua, Iowa. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in Max's memory to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church or Briarwood Care Center. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Max M. Ullom was born March 29, 1931, on a farm northeast of Nashua, Iowa to the parents of John and Mayme (Bauman) Ullom. He attended Gilland country school and graduated from Nashua High School in 1949. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951 and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. While in Okinawa, he developed rheumatic fever and was flown to Hawaii to recuperate. He was honorably discharged in 1955. Complications from the rheumatic fever resulted in rheumatoid arthritis thus preventing him from realizing his dream of becoming a farmer. Therefore, he furthered his education and graduated with high academic performance from Hamilton School of Commerce in Mason City, Iowa with a degree in Accounting in 1957. He met his future wife, Audrey Hasselmann, while attending Hamilton, and they were married on February 22, 1959 in Plymouth, Iowa. They made their home in Mason City, and welcomed a baby girl, Karen Kay, on November 19, 1965. Max was employed as an accountant at Swift & Company Fertilizer plant in Mason City. When that plant closed, he moved the family to Burlington, Iowa, and was employed as a transportation manager at First Miss Corporation. In 1983, Max joined the staff in the College of Medicine at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. He worked as a Senior Accountant until his retirement at the age of 70 in 2001. In retirement, Max enjoyed his long-time hobby of woodworking. He designed and made many beautiful pieces of furniture and creative gifts for others. He also wrote his life story, Max's Facts, served on the finance committee at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, and taught himself to sew and to cook. Max loved to visit with people and had many dear friends. He was always cheerful and had a big smile. He looked forward to his daily morning coffee with friends at Waterfront HyVee. Max was a man who was always thinking, always positive, and busy from sunrise to the moment he closed his eyes at night! Since May of 2013, he was a resident of Briarwood Health Care Center where he received loving care. Max's family includes his daughter, Karen Ullom, of Iowa City; his brother Charles (Ellen) Ullom of Louisville, KY; a niece and four nephews, Barbara Wightman, Douglas Wightman, Jon Wightman, Scott Ullom, and Brian Ullom. He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; a brother, Donald Ullom; and a sister, Marjorie Chestnut. Max was a man loyal to his work, his friends and his family; his dearest blessing in his life, was being Dad. He was loved by many and will be deeply missed.