Jeff Gallagher, of Montevideo, died at his home August 2, 2014 at the age of 62.
Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday, August 8, 2014 at 11:00 AM at the Church of St. Joseph in Montevideo. Fr. Jeremy Kucera will be the celebrant and interment will be in Visitation Cemetery in Danvers, MN.
Visitation will be held on Thursday from 5-7:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M.at the Church of St. Joseph.
Jeffery Lee Gallagher was born October 9, 1951 at Benson, MN the son of John and Lorraine (Maehren) Gallagher. Jeff grew up on a farm near Danvers and attended elementary school there. He graduated from Benson High School in 1969. Jeff attended airline school and worked for Delta Airlines in Chicago for a short time before his father became ill. He returned home and attended Willmar Community College for two years before graduating from Mankato State University in 1975. He coached and taught school in Windom until moving to Montevideo in 1978. Jeff was a Physical Education teacher and coached wrestling and baseball in Montevideo until 2006. Jeff was united in marriage with Ruth Thompson in 1982. He loved coaching and compiled an impressive record of 325 wins in Legion Baseball, 324 wins in wrestling, and 333 wins in Baseball. He was instrumental in rejuvenating and playing for the Benson Chiefs town baseball team in the early 1970's. Jeff was a group ticket sales representative for the MN Twins for many years. He was inducted into the Montevideo Athletic Hall of Fame and the MWCA Wrestling Hall of Fame. Jeff was slowed by Parkinson’s-like symptoms in his later years.
He is survived by two sons: John Gallagher of Granite Falls, MN and James Gallagher of Eau Claire, WI; three brothers: Joseph (Roasara) Gallagher of Geneseo, IL, James Gallagher of Danvers, MN and Jerome (Ann) Gallagher of Marshall, MN; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents.