John Francis "Johnny" McAllister was welcomed into the arms of Jesus on Wednesday night, April 29th, 2026. He is now safe in his Heavenly Home. He loved everything about Jesus and felt Jesus was His Best Friend.
Johnny was born to Francis and Mary Salter McAllister in Muscatine, Iowa, on December 18, 1975. He was the youngest cousin on both sides of his family. From a toddler to his final day, Scooby Doo topped his list! Anything Scooby was A-OK.
When he was 3, his family moved to Burlington, Iowa. He started preschool at the AEA's Flint Hills school. Shortly before he turned 5, he became a student at Hope Haven School, then Central Ave. School, which eventually joined the Burlington School system. In Middle School, he attended Oak St. School, then Burlington High School. Scott Wood was his first teacher at Hope Haven School - and his last teacher at BHS. After graduating in 1997, he attended Hope Haven's Day Program. We want to thank all his educators and caretakers, who enriched his life so much.
Johnny grew up happy and more than a bit ornery. Once, when he was still little, his mother was trying to correct him. His Grandpa Woody Salter commented, "Don't try to knock all of that out of him. It just might be what gets him through life."
He enjoyed going to school and Hope Haven. He would happily wait for the bus while clapping his hands, singing his version of various songs, including 'We will, we will rock you'. He loved taking walks up to and around the high school, sometimes conning his family into 3 walks a day - one with his sister, Christy; one with Mom, and one with Dad.
Going to BHS Grayhound games with his mom and sister was a highlight. He was a big supporter of Coach Larry Heath and his Burlington Grayhound teams. He was always ready to go to the Burlington Bees baseball games with his Dad. He waited anxiously for the dances and other fun activities held by Partners (mentioned below). Once, a Dr. asked Johnny, "Do you ever see things which other people don't?" He answered quickly, “BEES”! (Mom shared who the Bees really were.)
Johnny was raised in the Presbyterian church. His long-term Sunday school teachers were Kathi Linn, Carl Snipes, and Curtis Blom. Other kids would change classes, but over the years, he remained with these 3, who shared the love of Christ with him.
He often sat and watched people, especially their eyes. Sometimes, he’d notice tears in someone's eyes and ask, "You OK?" When his sister, Christy, was sick, he would sit beside her bedroom door, hoping she would get better soon.
In his 20's, John began struggling with his emotions and didn't understand what was happening to him. Eventually, he moved to Glenwood Resource Center in Glenwood, Iowa. John lived there from May of 2006 to March of 2024. His favorite job was shredding papers, since he could glance away and watch people. He became very attached to his caretakers there. They were more than caretakers, they were Family! That's when he fondly started calling his residence 'My House'. I wish I could name each one who helped him feel safe there. One worker, Dawn Post, was there the day he arrived and was still there on his last day. It was so very hard for him to leave Dawn and all the others. During his time at GRC, his parents and Christy often traveled many miles across Iowa on U.S. 34 to visit him.
Once, when out for breakfast, John grew very quiet and kept cautiously watching a group of men who were in camouflage with black stripes on their faces. Eventually, he leaned over and quietly questioned Mom, "Bad Guys?" Mom reassured him that the guys were okay and he was safe.
After his home at Glenwood Resource Center was closed, he found another loving home with his MYEP caretakers in Iowa City. He loved all his adventures during his two years with them. He and Christy had fun seeing each other every Thursday for MYEP's Day Hab. Last year's Prom was a very special event. We (his parents) can't say enough about the loving care everyone gave him, especially when he was finally released from the hospital. All he kept asking during those weeks was "My house?" He wanted desperately to...go home. Three of his 'home family', who knew him best (Breanna, Te'Ona, and Daisy) arranged their schedules so one of them was always with him - each and every hour. He had two happy days being home, gradually growing silent as he continued listening to those around him for 4 more days. Then, he was welcomed by Jesus and many loved ones to his Eternal Home.
John is survived by his blessed parents, Francis and Mary McAllister , and his much-loved big sister, Christy McAllister. Being with family was very important to him. Missing him will be his aunts and uncles: JoAnn Howe, Dorothy Swanson, Chuck Roegiers, and Linda Wymar, John and Nancy Salter, Frank and Donna Salter, and Cheryl Prosperi. Cousins: Cynthia Hill, Mary and Mike McLerran, Brenda Mennen, Terry and Debbie Royer, Bob Royer and Patti, Richard and Gretchen Temple, Chuck B. Roegiers and Melanie, Leigh Ann and David Dilley, Dawn and Jim Martinez, Doug Roegiers, Sherrie and Bob Koch, Mike Salter, Thad and Heather Salter and Melissa and Abram Steen, Mark and Diane Kohrs and Tonya (Kohrs) and Robert Barker.
Those welcoming him to Heaven are his grandparents, Everett and Flora Peterson McAllister, and Woody and Esther Moffitt Salter; his uncles and aunts, Richard and Donna McAllister, Roy Howe, Gary Swanson, Rosie Salter Roegiers, and Judi and Dick Kohrs, along with 3 of the Kohrs’ children, Jeff Kohrs, Terri Stewart, and Michael Kohrs. He was also greeted by his very best buddy, Jason Lee Starr.
Celebration of Life info: Please wear casual clothes.
☆ Friday, May 15 (the 3rd Friday)
☆ First Christian Church, 1221 Park Ave. Burlington, IA. - (no steps, no construction)
☆ Visitation: 2-3 p.m.
☆ Celebration of Life: 3 p.m.
☆ If you cannot join us at 3, please join us for a light meal which follows.
(First Christian was a special happy place in Johnny's heart. A Christian retreat day for folks with special needs was held there once a year for many years. It was called Journey with Jesus and he loved it!)
According to his parents' wishes, cremation services have been entrusted to Lunning Chapel in Burlington. Inurnment will take place on Monday, May 18th, 2026 @ 10 a.m. at Forest Home Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: First Presbyterian Church, {Burlington}, Partners: an Association for Persons with Disabilities (Burlington) , or MYEP in Iowa City (which provided homes and programs for John and his sister, Christy).
Online condolences can be made by visiting www.lunningfuneralchapel.com