William James Gallagher

William Gallagher was born on August 25, 1921 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His parents were William and Ruth Gallagher. He grew up in Spring Valley, Minnesota. He had many fond memories of his childhood, like being a shoe shine boy, tipping outhouses, playing on the high school football and basketball teams and graduating, in 1939, from Spring Valley High School. Soon after graduation, he moved to Hastings, Minnesota, where he met Marion Naseth. He noticed her walking down the street each day. Fortunately he became friends with her cousin. One night at the movies he spotted Marion in the balcony with her date. During the intermission, her date went to get popcorn, so Bill belined up there and sat down next to her. He said it was love at first sight at least for him. Marion and Bill were married in 1941. He was very devoted to her. They were married for sixty years when Marion passed away.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he joined the Marine Corps but Marion made him wait for his number to come up. He served in World War II until 1945. After the war he and Marion moved to Washington, moved to Minnesota, and moved to Washington again, where they finally settled. Bill was a fireman in Seattle, Washington and at Fort Snelling, Minnesota.

During this time, he and Marion also began their family. Their first son, William, passed away at only two days old. God blessed them with four more children, Colleen, Brian, Megan and Tracy. His son Brian, passed away last summer. His daughter Colleen is married to Jim Bellecourt, his daughter Megan is married to Ron Felts and his daughter Tracy is married to Mike Young. He also is survived by 16 grandchildren and has his first great grandson on the way.

Bill is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Gerald and Patricia Gallagher, MN; his sister and brother-in-law, Colleen and Bill Fitzgerald, IL; and his sister Virginia Gallagher, MN. He is also survived by some of his cousins, and many nephews and nieces.

In 2001, Bill and Marion moved from their home of many years in Seattle, to the small town of Duvall to live closer to their children. Marion passed away in December of 2001, and Bill missed her dearly. Last December, 2006, Bill wasn't feeling well most of the time. In January, 2007, he went into the hospital for pnemonia. He then went to a nursing home for rehabilitation, back to the hospital, home to his children, back to the hospital, to hospice and finally to his daughters. He had hospice coming out to see him. For most of that time, he still seemed pretty good. He still had his cute personality, his funny expressions, and was still a gentleman. He kept telling everyone that he wanted to go home, especially during his last few days here. He also kept calling out for Marion. On May 2, he told Colleen and Tracy he wanted to get closer. They moved him next to the sliding glass door, but he wanted to be closer. Finally he asked them to take him outside. When they were outside he told them he was closer. He then reached one hand out and said "can You take my hand'" Colleen and Tracy told him it was alright if he wanted to go, he then put one foot out as if trying to klppp takeastep. On Thursday, May3, seemed like his day to say good-bye. He had kisses for all of his girls. Later in the day, Colleen and Megan helped him lay down in bed. As he was laying there staring up at the ceiling, he put both hands up in the air reaching out. The next day he was sleeping most of the time. There was something different though. The girls called their families, and almost all of them were there. In the later part of the afternoon Bill all of a sudden spoke for the first time since the day before. He said "Father". Then a few minutes later he had this silly smile on his face and then a tear drop coming from the corner of his eye. That happened about four or five times. Then he was gone.

Bill was a wonderful man. He loved his family very much. He could be quite the character, but everyone always noticed what a gentleman he was. He will be missed by many.