David Lee Gallagher, age 66, passed away on November 4, 2019, at his home in Oakley, KS with his family by his side, after his bout with pancreatic cancer. Dave was welcomed in to this world on December 6, 1952, in Wichita, KS. Dave was one of six children of Frank and Joyce Gallagher.
Dave grew up in Hoxie and spent his days hunting, fishing, and had an abundant love for cars. He expended a lot of time with his adored maternal grandparents, Loyal and Elsie Jacob. He was active in sports and had many friends through school. In 1970, Dave graduated from Hoxie High School and attended Goodland Vo-Tech specializing in auto body repair.
The newly high school graduate, Rosemary Vahling, caught Dave’s attention while in passing in Lenora, KS, and they were wed in St. Joseph Catholic Church in New Almelo, KS on December 2, 1972.
Dave and Rosie made their home in Lenora, then Garden City where Dave worked at local auto body shops. They were happy to move closer to home, returning to Hoxie in 1973 and continuing work in auto body repair.
During their marriage, they bore a son, Christopher Lee [1977], and daughter, Sonya Kay [1980]. The family loved Hoxie and having family close, however, they chose to relocate to Oakley in 1990 where Dave’s Body Shop flourished. Dave became the proud ‘PaPa’ to his three adorned grandchildren.
Dave surpassed many in trap shooting across Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado and family loved to watch. He made many memories with his family, taking his restored ‘hot rods’ to cars shows across the tri-states. The family loved camping, fishing, boating, and hunting and still share stories of their adventures. Dave had the opportunity to hunt in Alaska, go to Canada fishing, take a buffalo south of Oakley, elk hunt in Colorado, and years of hunting and fishing locally. Dave enjoyed nature and the outdoors and was a lifelong archery hunter. He enjoyed the challenge and thrill of archery turkey hunting – his favorite. He and Rosie loved to golf as they traveled to many courses to golf together and with friends. Dave & Rosie also loved to go dancing with a group of good friends. Their favorite destination was Hawaii.
Dave was a man of many talents. He was a generous, honest, hardworking man, and volunteered in his community. He built his business on a handshake and good word. He is proud the name carried on after retirement in 2014 and sale to his longtime employee, Mike Chrisler.
Dave was a member of Pheasants Forever, National Rifle Association, Oakley Trap Club, Oakley Chamber of Commerce, and Oakley Country Club. He served as Master Hunter Education Instructor for many years and loved to hear successful stories from now adults that he mentored at a young age.
Dave’s surviving family includes his wife Rosie Gallagher; two children, Chris Gallagher, and Sonya (Robert) Cooksey, all of Oakley, KS; three grandchildren, Preslee, Karver, and Jentry; his mother and father, Frank and Joyce (Jacob) Gallagher; three sisters, Leanna (Tom) Sloan, Ladonna (Mark) Joslyn, and Mary (Alex) Dumler, all of Hoxie. His surviving in-laws are Florence Vahling, Hoxie, KS, Laura (Joe) Dorenkamp, Selden, KS, Jim (Christine) Vahling, Mesa, AZ, Marcia (Russ) Aumiller, New Almelo, KS, Paul (Donna) Vahling, Denver, CO, Estella (Phil) Kirkham, Sharon Springs, KS, George Vahling, Plainville, KS, and Annette (Clint) Follis, Hoxie, KS, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his siblings, Stan Gallagher and Maryln Rogers; brother-in-law, William ‘Bill’ Vahling, and father-in-law, Henry Vahling.
There will be a visitation for Dave’s family and friends on Thursday November 7, 2019 at the Buffalo Bill Cultural Center in Oakley from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Funeral services for Dave will follow, starting at 2:00 p.m. Graveside services will be at St. Frances Cemetery, just west of Hoxie at 4:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Oakley 4-H Shooting Sports or Logan County Physical Therapy and Wellness Center, send to David Gallagher, PO Box 244, Oakley, KS 67748. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com.
