Marilyn Lou Galins

Marilyn was born 27 Dec 1940 in Springfield, Mass. A sister Carol would soon join them and a brother Roy much later. The family later moved to Southern Texas. Marilyn’s Dad George Keith’s job expertise was in optimizing and improving strains of corn for specific regions. A subsequent family move took them to Urbana, Illinois, and then Huron, Ohio, on the shores of Lake Erie, where Marilyn learned and became proficient in the art of sailing small sailboats and skating on the frozen lake. Marilyn was also known at Huron High as an only-once car painter after using common house paint and recruited help, to re-paint her old jalopy car in school colors.

Marilyn earned a BS in Nursing at Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, where she shared a dorm room overlooking tennis courts where the tennis team practiced. Marilyn shared that dorm room with a Latvian girl who happened to be from Canton, Ohio, then Gunnar’s hometown. Soon Gunnar boldly invited Marilyn to a Fraternity Party at the adjacent Case Institute of Technology where he was enrolled in Engineering. Marilyn and Gunnar were married on August 10,1963, in Huron, Ohio. Followed by a memorable cross-country voyage in Gunnar’s station wagon, through numerous National Parks and finally the end destination, Burbank, CA, where Gunnar lived and worked.

Marilyn was quickly hired as an RN at the nearby St Josephs Hospital. She worked as a Labor and Delivery Nurse for 9 years, and soon achieved a master’s in nursing, which led her to become a well – loved Nurse Educator, teaching up and coming new Nurses the art of patient care. Marilyn completed her career as a Hospice Nurse, which she embraced as a true calling.

The family grew, first Sandy on 12/13/1964 and then Linda on 3/17/1969. The family, now in California, were regular attendees at Emanuel Lutheran Church and then at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, after purchasing a first home in Granada Hills. At St. Stephen’s, Marilyn dedicated her time as an Assisting Minister and visited home bound parishioners to give Holy Communion to the sick. That church evolved into Bethlehem Lutheran Church, where Marilyn was a long-time popular and active member, sang in the church choir and played “Bells” with the Bell Ringers.

Throughout those years, Marilyn was also active in Book Club and various sports including Yoga, Bicycling, Tennis, and Snow Skiing at Mammoth Mountain, where she was occasionally seen bravely skiing from the very top of the mountain.Marilyn was a frequent neighborhood jogger and rose to the highest level by finishing the LA Marathon. A chapter of her life she cherished deeply was being an adoring Gram to grandkids Riley and Hannah. Her face would light up with a joyful smile whenever she got to see them. Marilyn lived joyfully, laughed often, and loved deeply. Her kindness and faith will live on through the many lives she touched. She is now resting in the arms of the Lord.

Marilyn leaves behind Gunnar, her husband of 63 years, her daughter Linda (Greg); and her two grandchildren – Riley and Hannah. She is also survived by her brother, Roy Keith. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 1:00 pm at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Granada Hills, California. All who knew and loved Marilyn are invited to attend.