Michael A. Monaghan

Michael Allyn Monaghan, 75, of Guthrie Center, formerly of Creston, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, at The New Homestead of Guthrie Center. A Celebration of Life will be 3 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 8, at Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center of Creston. Allyn will be laid to rest in the Rose Hill Cemetery in a private ceremony prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Mary Wertz-May Nursing Scholarship fund at Southwestern Community College. Memories and condolences for the family may be left online at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

Michael Allyn Monaghan was born April 16, 1949, to John Joseph (Jack) Monaghan and Betty Marie Hannon Monaghan in Creston. Allyn, as he was known by throughout his life, grew up in Mount Ayr, where graduated from high school in 1967. During his high school years, Allyn was active in high school athletics including football, baseball, basketball, golf and track & field. Following high school, Allyn attended Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in education in 1971. During his undergrad years, Allyn pledged to the Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity and was named “Man of the Year” in 1971. He went on to earn his master’s degree in secondary school administration from Northwest in 1983, while also working as a graduate assistant as the director of intramurals.

Allyn married Brenda Krogh in December 1976 and they had two sons, Brandon and Brett. He worked as a high school history teacher and coach at Adair-Casey Community School before taking his first high school principal position in Buffalo Center, following completion of his graduate degree. In 1991, Allyn earned the SAI High School Principal of the Year Award. He worked for the Buffalo Center/North Iowa School District until his family moved to Hubbard, in summer 1993, where he worked the remainder of his professional career for the Hubbard-Radcliffe School District as a high school principal.

Allyn’s favorite things were his two sons, his grandchildren, his significant other, Mary Wertz, who passed away March 2022, and being 100% Irish. Those who knew Allyn best also knew his love affair with the game of golf. He enjoyed organizing golf trips to Lake Panorama National, Lake Mozingo Golf Course, Osage Beach Golf Course and the Gruis Recreational Area to name a few. Other “golf trips of a lifetime” included a trip to California with his sons in July 2013, to watch his beloved Dodgers and play golf at a number of beautiful courses along the Pacific Coastline and volunteering at the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.

Outside of golf, Allyn loved trivia and would create games played annually by his family during the Christmas season. None of them knew any of the answers, but he would continue to put together different games each year and so enjoyed hosting Christmas in his home. Allyn loved the Northwest Missouri State Bearcat athletic programs and often attended football games, both home and road, and was a proud member of the “Founding 50″ contributors who donated to assist in the construction of the Hughes Family Center Indoor Practice Facility on the Northwest campus in Maryville.

Allyn was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Betty.

He is survived by his brother, Barry of Panora; his two sons, Brandon of Guthrie Center and Brett (Sadie) of Ottumwa; his three grandchildren: Vada, Sylvie and Gavin of Ottumwa and many other close family and friends.