Galles, Iola E. 1912-2003

GALLES, JOHNSON, WALTERS

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/19/2007 at 14:39:19

KINGSLEY, Iowa -- Iola E. Galles, 91, of Kingsley died Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003, at Kingsley Nursing and Rehab Center.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. today at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Kingsley, with the Rev. Thomas J. Topf officiating. Burial will be at a later date in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Rohde-Earnest Funeral Home in Kingsley.

Iola was born June 6, 1912, in Galva, Iowa, the daughter of Ferdinand and Elsie (Walters) Johnson. The family moved to Kingsley in 1916, where her father owned and operated a grocery store for 19 years. She attended Kingsley Public School, graduating in 1929. She attended college at the University of South Dakota for two years, then taught school and directed plays in small towns in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

On June 11, 1934, she married Roman Galles. After their marriage, they purchased Wagner's Market from Roman's mother, Anne Wagner. Over the next 35 years, Iola, Roman and their eight children worked in the store and enjoyed life in Kingsley.

When her youngest daughter, Jenni, was in high school, she went back to the University of South Dakota to obtain her library and teaching certification. After receiving her certification, she worked as school librarian at Quimby, Remsen St. Mary's Grade School and High School. The couple moved to Remsen, Iowa in 1971. They spent their winters in Mesa, Ariz., and in 1995, they moved to Pierson, Iowa. Roman died Oct. 24, 2000. She had been a resident of Kingsley Nursing and Rehab Center since November 1997.

She enjoyed the company of her many friends and family. Her time was occupied with reading and knitting, she especially enjoyed knitting special round afghans for babies. She was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church.

Survivors include four daughters, Sister Michaela of Sioux City, Clara Beth Ortner of Holstein, Iowa, Margaret Hager and her husband, Jim, of Kirkland, Wash., and Jenni Malsam and her husband, Joe, of Sioux City; four sons, Joseph Galles and his wife, Madeline, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, John Galles and his wife, Lois, of Kingsley, Jim Galles and his wife, Connie, of Japan, and Gerry Galles of Altoona, Iowa; 30 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; a brother and his wife, Wallace and Maxine Johnson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and two sisters-in-law, Edna Johnson and Bette Johnson.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Roman; a sister, Lucylle; two brothers, Duane and Carroll; and a son-in-law, Richard Ortner.

~source: Sioux City Journal--Part of the Darrell Easton Obituary Collection