Ray Galler

Ray "Bill" Lewis Galler

Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather

Age 91, of Oakdale MN, formerly of Hudson WI. Passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on June 21, 2024.

Born in Waupun WI on February 27, 1933, Bill was the only child of Dorothy (Schmidt) and George Galler. He grew up in Waupun, was baptized at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and obtained his business degree from the University of Iowa in 1955. He subsequently served in the U.S. Navy.

He began his 37 year career with the JCPenney company in 1957 in Racine, WI where he met Sandra Kay Klimek, who worked at the store's candy counter. They eloped in Waukegan IL on January 30, 1959 and were married for 65 years. Together, they raised four sons, living in Menominee Falls WI, Hillsdale MI, Hamilton IL, and Afton MN, as his career as a Store Manager for JCPenney advanced.

Bill enjoyed traveling, woodworking, gardening, reading, sporting events, pheasant hunting, and puttering around their property in Hudson WI. He cheered for the Wisconsin Badgers, Iowa Hawkeyes, and the Green Bay Packers. He was a longtime member of Salem Lutheran Church in Stillwater and previously served as President of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hillsdale MI.

He will be remembered for his good sense of humor, his pragmatic view of life and his natural inclination to problem solve. Nostalgic, he valued crafting family traditions that have endured place, time and generations. He will be missed for his stories of youth, conversations on a wide range of topics and appreciation of the simple pleasures of life.

Bill was grateful for the life he lived. He was also confident and thankful for his return trip to heaven as he had faith in the promise of redemption and resurrection through Jesus Christ.

He was preceded in death by his Parents; and Daughter-in-Laws, Julie Galler and Susan Galler.

He is survived by his Wife, Sandra; Sons, Christopher (Caryn Sullivan) Galler, Gregory Galler, Douglas (Stephanie Brown) Galler, and Eric (Tamara) Galler.; Grandchildren, Jonathan (Molly) Galler, David Galler, Daniel (Alesha) Galler, Katherine (DJ) Yokom; Michael Galler; and Jack Galler; and 5 Great-Grandchildren.

His family wishes to thank the staff at Oak Meadows Senior Living Center for the exceptional care and comfort they provided Bill - and our whole family - over the last few months.