Jacqueline “Jackie” J. Callahan, age 84 of St. Thomas, MN, (Le Sueur County), died suddenly at her home on Saturday, August 28, 2021. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas Catholic Church, Le Sueur County, MN. Visitation will be at the Kolden Funeral Home in Le Sueur on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 starting at 4:00 p.m. and concluding with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service. Visitation will continue Saturday morning at Kolden Funeral Home, Sept. 11, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Procession to St. Thomas for the 10:30 a.m. Mass followed by burial in the church cemetery, lunch at St. Anne’s School, Le Sueur, MN. Fr. Thomas Niehaus will officiate the services.
Jackie was born on August 1, 1937 in Le Sueur, MN to Joseph and Margaret (Bauer) Traxler. She attended Le Sueur Schools and graduated from Le Sueur High School. She attended Mankato State University and later married John Callahan on August 30, 1958 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Veseli, MN. She worked for Green Giant when she was younger along with various other jobs before starting a 37-year career with Le Sueur Public Health Dept. She later enjoyed working at Minnesota Harvest near Jordan, MN. Running the Callahan Store in St. Thomas was a big part of her life for many years. She enjoyed her time with family and grandkids.
Jackie enjoyed traveling. She took multiple cruises with her family. She also enjoyed traveling abroad with her daughters and grandchildren. Her favorite memories included attending the Audience with the Pope, kissing The Crown of Thrones, touring Ephesus, visiting the home of the Virgin Mary, and riding a camel near the Pyramids of Egypt. She looked forward to getting out of the Minnesota cold and spent her winters in Mission, Texas.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, John Callahan, Children; Mary “Kate” (Jeff) Christianson of Apple Valley, MN; Barb (Pete) Meger of Belle Plaine, MN; John “Coke” (Geri) Callahan of Le Sueur, MN; Denis (Nadine) Callahan of Belle Plaine, MN; Tom (Dawn) Callahan of St. Thomas, MN; Patrick (Julie) Callahan of Le Center, MN and Bonita “Bonnie” (Cornelio) Hernandez of St. Thomas, MN, 22 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. Siblings; Joe (Gail) Traxler of Belle Plaine, MN; Francis (Ellen) Traxler of Remer, MN; Margie (Robert) Cemenski of St. Thomas, MN and Brian (Evonne) Traxler of Le Sueur, MN. Many nieces, nephews relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents; step-dad, Stanley Meger; daughters, Margaret “Peggy” and Clara “Pamela”. Siblings, Denis Traxler, Diane (Michael) Cawley and sister-in-law, Harriet Traxler, and great grandson Angelo.
