Ronald L. 'Mike' McNally

FALLS CHURCH, Virginia - Ronald L. (Mike) McNally, age 86, passed away on Tuesday June 12, 2024, at his residence in Falls Church, Virginia.

A visitation will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 29 at Marion Lutheran Church in Gunder. A funeral service will follow at 12 p.m. with Rev. Gary Hatcher as the officiant. Burial will follow at Marion Lutheran Cemetery in Gunder.

Ronald was born Jan. 24, 1938, to Louis J. McNally and Clara (Mork) McNally and grew up on the family farm in Iowa. After graduating high school, Ron went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in Engineering at Iowa State University, a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering at University of Missouri, and a PhD in Electrical Engineering at Michigan State University. During his academic career, Ron was selected for the National Science Foundation Summer Research Experience at Worchester Polytechnic Institute. In addition, as an undergraduate at Iowa State, he was proud to have participated in researching and building the first satellites to launch into space under the direction of Dr. James Van Allen.

While at the University of Missouri, he met the love of his life, Sarah Alice (Andoe) McNally. Ron and Sarah were married from 1964 until her passing in 1999. In 1972, living in Indiana where Ron was a member of the Purdue University Electrical Engineering Department, he happily welcomed the arrival of their daughter Anne. 1974 saw the family moved to Springfield, Virginia where Ron started his long career in defense contracting for the U.S. government. Working at Analytic Services, Inc., and Titan Software Systems, Ron was able to apply his expertise in engineering and communications to help solve {more}

He was a devoted husband, and a dedicated father to his daughter, Anne. His post retirement home in Burke, Virginia was 15 minutes from Anne and afforded him the ability to play the role of doting grandfather to all of his granddaughters for more than 20 years. As grandfather to Sarah, Ashleigh and Mary he frequently babysat, volunteered, taught them to play Soduko and Mastermind, drove them to lessons, read books, drew pictures and took them Christmas shopping. Ron enjoyed theater and he attended all of his grand daughters' performances and special events.

Ron was a member of Harvester Presbyterian Church where he served as a deacon. After the loss of his wife, Sarah, he volunteered as grief counselor with Haven House of Northern Virginia for many years. He was an active model airplane enthusiast and participated with the Academy of Model Aeronautics Control Line Clubs throughout his life.

Ron is survived by his daughter Anne McNally Pinkstaff, her husband Brent Pinkstaff, his grand-daughters Sarah, Ashleigh and Mary Pinkstaff, his sisters Sandra Cutler, Patricia Smith, Betty Searles, his sister-in-law Wanda McNally, and his many neices and nephews.

Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Postville is assisting the family with the burial.

Click here to visit the Schutte-Grau Funeral Home website.