Charles Del Galusha

A Memorial Service for Charles will be held on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at Farmer & Son Funeral Home in Geneva, Nebraska with Pastor Art Phillips presiding. No visitation will be held as it was Charles wishes to be cremated. Private Family Graveside Services will be conducted at a later date. Memorials are to be directed to the family to be designated at a later date. Charles Del Galusha was born at home near Fairmont to Don and Edna (Schneider) Galusha on July 13, 1938 – a day that his mother long maintained was “the hottest day on earth – ever!” Del passed away on September 19, 2023 in Fairmont at the age of 85 years, 2 months and 6 days. He was able to stay at home in the care of his family until his last few days. Del attended country school through 8th grade, graduating from Fairmont High School in 1955 at the age of 16. After graduating, he worked part-time for a blacksmith, local farmers and operated land leveling equipment until joining the family’s farming operation full-time in 1961. It was in this year on February 12th that he was joined in marriage to Janice Hulse. To this union four children were born, Dana Del, Daren Don, Jina Michelle and Joni Janelle. Del was a grateful person, keenly aware of the blessings in his life. He had a deep appreciation for his friends and family in particular. As a young boy, the family would head to town on Saturdays. His parents always made sure he had enough money to see a movie or go roller skating and buy a candy bar or a comic book at the drug store in Fairmont. In those days, often the only source of that kind of spending money was the sale of cream and eggs. Many times he witnessed his parents generously sacrifice their wants so that he might have the money for the little things that made for a happy childhood. As time went on, his appreciation for those sacrifices grew. Farming came naturally to him as he enjoyed being outside and working on equipment. He was “handy” and had a genuine curiosity for learning how things worked, then fixing them. He and Janice moved to a new home in town in 1993 but continued to farm until health issues lead him retire in the fall of 2000. All four children have many happy memories from growing up as farm kids at the “home place” on the hill west of Fairmont. Del was a patient, calm and steady presence – never one to complain or raise his voice. He was a good provider and his focus was always on his family. He genuinely enjoyed watching others have a good time together, especially his children and grandchildren. He loved boating, camping and fishing. He was the type of dad who would have a big fish on his line and hand the pole to one of his kids (and later grandkids) just to watch them get excited to reel it in. Camping trips to Milford Lake in KS and Hulse Family Reunions at Yankton, SD yielded many happy family memories. His interests beyond farming, fishing and family were many and varied. He enjoyed a wide variety of music with country, polka and bluegrass being his favorites, especially when in concert. He enjoyed playing horseshoes, pool and cards. Love of sports was something he and his wife, Janice, shared. Del particularly looked forward to watching basketball, everything from high school state tournaments to NCAA March Madness and even the NBA. They were season ticket holders to Husker Women’s Basketball for several years. Del and Janice also shared a love of traveling, often with their kids and grandkids, going to Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Branson, Missouri and many other destinations. These were some of his favorite memories. Finding just the right local restaurant for a good ribeye steak and a red beer, whether on vacation or near home, was a special treat. He was always appreciative of family “potluck” style dinners and often had favorite items he requested. He was happiest in the presence of his family and was known for ending each visit with the open invitation to “come back again”. Del is survived by his wife of 62 years Janice (Hulse); children Dana and wife Sue (Sullivan) of Seward, Daren and wife Robin (Schake) of Fairmont, Jina Gibbs and husband Michael of Greenville, North Carolina, Joni Powers and husband Troy of Henderson; sister Donna O’Brien; grandchildren Ben Galusha of Kansas City, Kansas, Chris Galusha of Valparaiso, Adam Galusha of Seward, Ethan Galusha of Seward, Jacob Galusha of Hastings, Madison Galusha of Lincoln, Samantha Korbelik of Greenville, NC, Heather Korbelik of Greenville, NC, Sarah Korbelik of Greenville, NC, Hayden Powers of Henderson, Lane Powers of Henderson; and great-grandson Brayden Korbelik of Greenville, NC, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Del was preceded in death by his parents, Don and Edna Galusha; brother Gayle and his wife Nancy (Ackerman); Brother-in-Law Michael O’Brien.

Tributes

Charles Del Galusha

July 13, 1938 - September 19, 2023