Dr. Ronald A. Galles, age 75, a lifelong resident of Marcus, IA, passed away Friday, January 12, 2024, at the Happy Siesta Care Center in Remsen, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Dementia. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 18, 2024, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Marcus, IA. Pastor Timothy Pick and Deacon Jerry Bertrand will officiate. Burial will be at Holy Name Catholic Cemetery, Marcus, IA. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, with the family present from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday night at Holy Name Catholic Church. There will be a Knight’s of Columbus Rosary at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday and a 7:00 p.m. prayer service Wednesday night, following visitation at the church. The Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Marcus is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.greenwoodfuneral.com.
Ron was born June 4, 1948 to Robert Francis Galles & Mary (Coburn) Galles. He was the oldest of six children and grew up on a farm near Marcus. He attended Marcus, Holy Name and Grand Meadow Schools, graduating from Marcus High School in 1966. He attended Iowa State University and graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1972. While in vet school he married Patricia Kay Henke on May 31, 1969 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Quimby, Iowa. While in Ames, Ron & Pat started their family of four children: Geri Lynn & Neal were born while in Ames and later Nathan & Greg once the family had moved back to the Marcus area.
Ron began his career as a veterinarian in Marcus, joining Dr. Ray Drefke & Dr. Gary Kluever. He later became partner & owner of The Marcus Vet Clinic which went onto be The Marcus-Remsen Vet Clinic. He practiced for 38 years, retiring in 2010. He was an active member of the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association. In retirement, he was involved with interviewing applicants for the ISU Veterinary Program.
Throughout his life Ron was involved in the community- The Marcus Jaycees, Marcus & MMC School Boards, school bond issues and fundraising projects (Marcus all-weather track), Marcus Food Pantry Board, First Trust & Savings Bank Board and numerous Holy Name Church boards. He was involved in raising money for scholarships and started the MMC Health Professional Scholarship. He donated nearly 40 gallons of blood over the years and was proud to be a 4th degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus. He helped grow the membership of the Knights of Columbus at Holy Name to over 100 members.
His favorite job in retirement was helping his son Greg on the farm. Hobbies throughout his life included gardening, fishing, doing jigsaw puzzles and he was hard to beat at a competitive game of Corn hole! His favorite fishing spot was Big Pine Lake, Perham, MN, where he knew exactly where to go to catch the kind of fish you wanted!
Preceding Ron in death were his parents: Robert & Mary Galles, nephew Chad Galles, great-niece Natalee Henke, and his father-in-law & mother-in-law, Raymond & Agnes Henke.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife Patricia of 54 years & step-mother Beverly Galles, both of Marcus. Also, his children: Geri Lynn (Roger) Schroeder of LeMars, IA, Neal (Holly) Galles of Dodge Center, MN, Nathan (Kim) Galles of Fort Dodge, IA & Greg Galles of Marcus. Grandchildren: Stephanie (Jeff) Wagenaar of North Liberty, IA, Zach (Kelly) Specht of Omaha, NE, Bethany (Dawson) DeBoer of Little Rock, IA and Ben (Jenna) Specht of Brandon, SD, Mitch (Paige) Galles of Kasson, MN, Brad Galles of Dodge Center, MN, Jacob Galles of Ames, IA, Avery Galles of Iowa City, IA and Grant Galles of Fort Dodge, IA. Great-grandchildren: Lena & Jameson Wagenaar of North Liberty, IA & Harlan DeBoer of Little Rock, IA.
Surviving siblings include: Kathryn Galles of Remsen, IA, Tim Galles of Arthur, IA, Fran (Roxanne) Galles, Joe (Lynn) Galles both of Remsen, IA & Cindy (Fred) Galles-Schiefen of LeMars, IA. Brother & sister-in-laws: Doug (Diane) Henke of Washta, IA & Scott (Sandy) Henke of Bloomington, MN as well as many nieces, nephews & great-nieces/nephews.
The family requests that memorials can be made in Ronald’s name. Memorials will be used to assist various groups and organizations that were important to him.