RICHARD GALLOWAY

Neenah-Menasha lost a true pillar of the community on October 16 when Dick Galloway left this world to join his wife, Pat, and two of his sons, Matt and Mark. His surviving children spent Dick's last days with him:  Chris (Rebecca Brown); Rick, Andy (Mary), Susan (Tom Portle), Becky (Richard Schmeck) and Joe (Jane), at Dick's last home at Island Shores, a retirement community where Dick's picture hangs in the hall with the other founders. A far-sighted man indeed!

The list of Dick's other achievements is long and impressive. Dick served in the United States Coast Guard Merchant Marine and was the president of Galloway Company.  He was a member of the Board of Directors for the National Manufacturers Bank and the Twin City Savings and Loan Association as well as a former president of both the Menasha Police and Fire Commission and the Neenah Rotary Club.  Dick was a longtime member of Rotary International and was honored as a Phil Harris Fellow.  

His proudest moments included his wooing of Lawrence University beauty queen Pat Wheeler and their raising eight children together at their lakeside home in Menasha.  He enjoyed duck hunting and fishing with his brothers and sons, competitive games of racquetball and sheepshead, and had a years-long cribbage series with Pat. 

Dick loved the water. He was a sailor at heart. Dick sailed Lake Winnebago and Little Lake Butte des Morts in his 24' Westerly sailboat and 16' Hobie catamaran, and was a proud winner of the Trans-Winnebago Hobie Regatta. Dick and Pat sailed the Caribbean and cruised through Alaska. He shared his love of water with his children, taking them out for peaceful sails and motor boat adventures. He taught them to waterski and was an artist at pulling water skiers. Dick loved winter skiing as well. Dick and Pat's honeymoon was a ski trip and they celebrated their anniversary with a ski trip when they could. He taught his children to snow ski and made sure each one had boots and skis every season. Family skiing trips were legendary.

When his skiing days were over he got a pontoon boat.  Most evenings after dinner during boating season Dick and Pat would be seen traveling along the shores of Little Lake Butte des Morts, often inviting friends to join them. His children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will never forget the fun times on Dick's pontoon boat.  

Dick had a beautiful voice and loved to sing and taught his children songs they remember to this day.  He sang for years at St. Mary's, both at mass and in the funeral choir, and harmonized at North Shore holiday festivities. He also loved golfing--twice hitting a hole-in-one--and he and Pat spent many comfortable winters in Arizona where they golfed, walked and enjoyed the wildlife.

Pat was the love of Dick's life and they were married 67 years.  He nursed her through several years of Alzheimer's before she died at home in April 2014.  After Pat died Dick moved into Island Shores, bringing his pontoon boat to Neenah harbor just steps from his new home.  He organized several boat trips for the residents and was very happy with his life there.  He had a wonderful ability to build community and loved making new friends.  

Dick had a competitive spirit so if you beat him in cribbage or racquetball, you knew it was a fair, hard won victory. And if you didn't, he was not above rubbing it in a little. 

He was kind, patient, honest and forgiving, and there was no ‘quit' in him. He will be sorely missed.

The Mass of Resurrection will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 12, 2016, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 320 Nicolet Blvd., Menasha, with Fr. Jim Hablewitz and Mary Krueger, Pastoral Leader, officiating.  The visitation will be held at the church from 9:00 AM until the hour of Mass.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Heckrodt Nature Center, NAMI (Alliance for the Mentally Ill) or the charity of your choice.