The Life of BERYL JUNE KULLANDER
B. June Kullander, 88, died Thursday, July 12, 2012, at Bright Kavanagh House in Des Moines. Memorial services will be held 11 a.m. Monday, July 16, at Iles Funeral Homes-Westover Chapel, where the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will follow at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Bright Kavanagh House.
June was born July 25, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Irving and Phyrne (Peppard) Beitel. She grew up with aunts, uncles, and cousins in Des Moines and Wisconsin. Eventually her father remarried Helen Voitel and together they had two daughters, Beverly Beitel Kapusta and Barbara Beitel Horton.
June went to Roosevelt High School in Des Moines and graduated in 1942. She married Ralph Kullander, an optometrist, on April 21, 1944. Ralph became a World War II pilot and flew C-46 and 47's in China, Burma and India – or the CBI Theatre.
Ralph and June's first child, a girl, died of health complications. Their second child was Kelley Kullander, now living in Denver, CO. A third child was William Kullander, now living in Des Moines.
June was a Secretary with the Iowa State Legislature for several years. Ralph died of cancer in 1993.
In 2000, June met Allen "Sam" Speagh, also a widower. June and Sam enjoyed traveling together, concerts, dining and going up north to Minnesota where Sam had a summer cabin. Sam had three daughters who also adopted June. Sam died in July, 2006.
In 2007, June adopted "Samantha" the cat.
June is preceded in death by her husband and one daughter. She is survived by sons, Kelley Kullander and William Kullander. June will be greatly missed by two sisters, nieces and nephews, Marion Radnich, and many dear friends.