Peter Galkin, 1920-2015

Published 10:06 am Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Funeral Services for Peter Gabriel Galkin will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea. Ryan Martens will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by Albert Lea veterans organizations.Visitation will be from 5 to  8 p.m. Friday at Bonnerup Funeral Service and one hour before services.

Peter Galkin

Peter was born June 24, 1920, on a farm in rural New Richland. He was one of eight children born to Charley J. and Lena (Sukaruchken) Galkin. Their family lived in Gardner and Mason City, Iowa, and they later settled in Albert Lea.

Pete started working at Wilson & Co. when he was 21.  It was the time of the war and he enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1942. He had served in Childress, Texas, and later Okinowa, Japan. Pete served his country in World War II for 3 1/2 years, receiving the rank of private first class before his honorable discharge in 1946.

Following his service Pete returned to Albert Lea and work at Wilson & Co.

After a year and a half of dating, on Sept. 14, 1947, Pete married the woman of his dreams,  Louise Marie Mischke in Frazee. Pete and Louise had three children, John, Anita and Gloria.

Pete and Louise lived in several homes in Albert Lea, and he did a lot of home improvement in each house he lived. His last house had a dream workshop. Pete was a very hard worker and never missed a day.  He would always walk to work, whether it be rain or shine, snow or blizzard. Even after he retired from Wilson & Co. after 40 years, Pete continued walking, almost five miles a day except on Sundays. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, The VFW, American Legion and the Eagles.

Pete owned his own plane for a short time and enjoyed flying as a hobby. He also enjoyed the quiet and tranquility of fishing. He spent a lot of time with his grandchildren and loved to play cards with family and friends.

Peter died Friday, Feb. 13, 2015, at St. John’s Lutheran Community in Albert Lea. He was 94.

Peter is survived by his son, John (Linda) Galkin, of Hayward; daughters Anita Galkin of Stillwater and Gloria Ramirez of Albert Lea; grandchildren Tamara Okland of St. Ansgar, Iowa, Rhonda Schmidt of Albert Lea, Christine Galkin of Chaska and Brandon Ramirez of Albert Lea; great-grandchildren Brett Okland, Jared Schmidt,  Justin Okland  and Stormy Ramirez; sister-in-law  and brothers-in-law Martha and Kenny Gausman of Cokato and Omer Wigern of Kiester; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Louise; and brothers and sisters.