MORSE, Galen 1926-2015

MORSE, WAID

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 7/13/2015 at 16:43:48

(Died July 13, 2015)

U.S. Veteran

Galen Morse, age 89, of Osage, died Monday, July 13, 2015, at the Faith Home in Osage.

Cremation has taken place. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 16, 2015, at the First United Methodist Church in Osage with Rev. Martha Bennett officiating. Inurnment will be at the Osage Cemetery with military honors at the grave by Osage American Legion Post 278 and Osage V.F.W. Post 7920. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage.

Galen was born January 16, 1926, in Charles City, Iowa, the son of Stanley and Phyllis (Waid) Morse. He served in the U.S. Army in the infantry during World War II after having been drafted between his junior and senior year at Charles City High School. He was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge and was honorably discharged in January of 1946.

Galen returned to Charles City High School and graduated with the class of 1946. On May 19, 1946, he married his high school sweetheart, Ramona Blanck, at Central Methodist Church in Charles City. Galen was a dry cleaner by trade, owning his own businesses in Howard Lake, Minnesota, Charles City and Osage, Iowa.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, American Legion, V.F.W., Sister City Organization, and was a past member of Mitchell County Concert Association and Mitchell County Historical Society, serving as a board member for several of these groups.

Galen was a master gardener in his younger years. Family was central to Galen. His wife, daughters, and grandchildren were precious to him. He looked forward to the Waid cousins gatherings. In 2001, Galen and Ramona received the Giving Your Best Award of Excellence (sponsored by Clear Lake Bank and Trust and KIMT News Channel 3) for volunteering. Galen loved helping others.

Galen is survived by his wife, Ramona Morse of Osage; his children, Rebecca (Jim) Havig of Osage, Patricia (Stephen) Gund of La Crescent, Minnesota, and Mary (Mike) Gilbert of Westlake, Ohio; six grandchildren, Troy (Brandi) Havig and Katie Havig, Andrea (Brian) Kwong and Samantha (Mike) Palumbo, Michael (Stacy) Gilbert and Anna (Rick) Aumann, and 11 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Bill, and a sister, Nancy, residing in California.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage (641) 732-3706

Source: Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home website