Gordon Gerald Galan

It is with sadness, thankful hearts, and a great assurance in the promises of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we share the graduation from earth to heaven of our beloved father, Gordon Galan on October 29, 2024, age 87.

Predeceased by his beloved wife Marlene, parents Helen and George, brothers Donald and Brian, sisters-in-law Evelyn Bechard and Priscilla Galan, brothers-in-law Ronald Hall and John Radmacher, and nephews Craig Hall and Darren Galan.

He leaves to remember and celebrate his life, his daughters Heather (Marv) Adie, Jacquie Galan (Steve Bankuti), and son Gregg (Pamela) Galan and 10 grandchildren; Nicholas Adie (Kristy), Kristyn (Chad) Sach, Mackenzie (Taylor) Bird, Jacquelynn (Carter) Donaldson, John Carter (Grace) Gonzalez, Macauley (Alec) Williams, Britney Galan, Jonathan (Stephanie) Galan, Cassidy (Andrew) Merta, and Joseph Galan along with 16 great-grandchildren Grace Peel, Kyrin and Ryiot Adie, Chase Novakovski, Annie, William, Abbie, Ava, and Noah Gordon Sach, Oaklyn Bird, Molly-Haedyn Galan, Esme, Meera, and Joseph Dante Galan, and Fenna and Merewen Merta.

Gordon also leaves a brother Fred (Sharon) Galan, sisters Joan Radmacher, Carol Silzer, and Brenda (Ken) Railton, brothers-in-law Charlie (Connie) Hall and Leonard Bechard, a sister-in-law Judy Galan, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

On October 1, 1937, Gordon was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. In his early years, much time was spent on his grandparent Galan’s family farm near Balgonie, SK. A life of faith came early to Gordon while attending Holy Rosary School and Cathedral, where he served as an altar boy for Father Walter Wadey, who continued to be a spiritual role model well into Gordon’s middle-aged years. One of Gordon’s earliest memories was sitting on a branch of a large tree in his front yard singing hymns, contemplating about and praying to God. As a boy, his passion was baseball and hockey. He would spend countless hours, in freezing prairie temperatures, helping to maintain outdoor skating rinks where he caught the attention of a man associated with the Regina Pats hockey organization. Through this connection, Gordon played hockey for Campion College in Regina.

Around the age of 13, his family bought a local grocery store and moved to McLean, Saskatchewan. It was there he met the love of his life, Marlene. While pursuing Marlene, he spent many hours on the Hall family dairy farm near McLean. When Marlene moved to Regina to complete grades 11 and 12, it gave Gordon the opportunity to ask her on a first date, a movie, “Two Weeks with Love”. In 1958, they were engaged on Valentine’s Day and married on May 17th at Little Flower Church in Regina. Their “Abba Dabba Honeymoon” was spent in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Fancy!

Gordon’s career began as a construction worker and a cement truck operator for Dominion where he helped to build the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, along with some of Regina’s downtown skyline. With a growing family, Gordon joined the Saskatchewan Transportation Company in 1965 as a highway coach driver. Throughout his life, Gordon LOVED to drive, both professionally and personally. LONG road trips were at the center of family vacations including trips to the Black Hills, Disneyland, Chicago, and ski trips to Alberta, B.C., Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah. In 1974, Gordon made a life changing career decision and partnered with Al Hertz to open and run Hertz Bus Regina Limited and Bus Sales of Saskatoon (1984). Gordon was successful with both small businesses and was able to retire, for the first time, at age 52. After retirement #1, Gordon and Marlene partnered in new business ventures taking them to Tucson, Arizona; Chilliwack B.C.; back again to Regina and Saskatoon before finally (sort of) retiring in Edmonton, Alberta in 2003. There he and Marlene supported their son and daughter-in-law (Gregg and Pamela) who are Pastors in a local church.

Together with Marlene, he raised 3 children who deeply love and miss them daily. We are SO thankful for them. Summer holidays in Kimberley B.C. became an annual family tradition for 18 years. Dad LOVED the golfing, BBQing, wild and competitive card games, and elaborate outdoor (sometimes indoor) water fights with hidden buckets and flowing hoses set up around the front and back yards for surprise attacks on unsuspecting grandchildren at play.

How Dad lived his life touched and influenced us in many ways. He had high standards, an eye for quality things (especially old Cadillacs), and kept the best lawn on the block. He was always singing a song, making up words as he went along. Dad was very funny, and laughter was common in every conversation whether on the phone or in-person. His personal relationship with Jesus transformed his heart. In his later years, he would often speak of his love for Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with tears streaming down his cheeks, not embarrassed by his honest emotion, fully acknowledging what God had done for him in his life. In his solo years, he prayed for family, each by name, every day. He was dutiful to study God’s word using 2 daily devotionals, attending 2 church services weekly online.

Dad was a “foodie” with stories and memories centered around what he ate. Oh, those feed troughs, filled with potato salad, on family farms during harvest! Dad loved gospel music, which was often sung and heard by his children, during family visits for birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Known for his non-stop sense of humor, practical jokes, and warmth and hospitality to strangers, Dad role modelled the importance of personal connection to those around him. He was a great conversationalist, always happy when you called, sharing and wanting to hear the latest funny story and family news. Throughout his life, Dad remained passionate about Christian ministry, sports, LOUD western movies, sappy romantic movies, and country and gospel music found on YouTube (for hours).

Gordon, Dad, Grandpa, you will be in our hearts and minds as long as we are on this earth. We will continue to remember and honor your life until we meet again in heaven, where all our tears will be wiped away, and where there will be great gladness and joy. Now, we picture you and Mom together again living in heaven lifting holy hands, dancing, singing, and praising in the Presence of the Lord, as we remember watching you on many occasions in church services and around your home while you were living on earth. We picture you cheering us on to finish the calling and purpose that God has for each of our lives.

We would like to thank the exceptional staff at the hospital in Devon, Alberta. You made Dad’s last month on earth as comfortable as possible. Your compassion and care are very much appreciated- thank you.