John Robert Bullard

John Robert Bullard, age 87, passed away at Lakeland Regional Hospital on January 23rd, 2024, after being diagnosed two and a half years ago with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (blood cancer). He was born November 30, 1936, in Belvidere Illinois to Robert A. and C. Bernice Bullard. He served in the Florida National Guard and the United States Army Reserve. John graduated High School in Poplar Grove, IL, and attended Northern Illinois University. After graduation he lived in Florida, South Carolina, and California, where he did military service, taught, and had the first three of his four children. John attended Graduate School at NIU, Long Beach State and Indiana University, ultimately receiving his Doctor of Education from Indiana University. From 1969-1980 John was an associate professor at the University of Iowa and worked at the Grant Wood Area Education Agency. From 1980 until retirement, he worked in real estate and managed rental properties in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Throughout his life, he was passionate about creating art, painting, sculpting, ceramics, tennis, industrial and theater set design, DIY (aka puttering), bowling, cars, and later in life an avid Pickleball player. He frequently described himself as a jack of all trades, master of none. He also published two books. John was a secular humanist and a firm believer in human rights. Anyone that ever spoke to John, knows that he was very outspoken about his beliefs and opinions. At his request, his body was donated to the College of Medicine, University of Florida Gainesville. John was preceded in death by his parents, and his younger brother Lynn Bullard (Caroline). He is survived by his wife of 13 years Kathleen Kiddell, and his brother Frank Bullard. John is also survived by his four children, Amy Stanbro (David), Jay Paul Bullard, Jill Moreno, and Daniel John Bullard (Tacia) and grandchildren, Jacob Stanbro, Carly Bakker (Riley), Corey Moreno, Benjamin Bullard, and Bridget Bullard. John lived to see the birth of his great grandson, Brooks Bakker born on January 8th, 2024. A small memorial was held at the Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home in Lakeland, Florida on January 26, in lieu of flowers, John has asked that donations be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Habitat to Humanity, or the American Civil Liberties Union.

John Robert Bullard

November 30, 1936 - January 23, 2024