Janice Galusha

A Memorial Service for Janice was held on Thursday, January 11, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in York, Nebraska. Pastor Trudy Hanke presided over the Memorial Service. Private family inurnment will take place at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Janice Galusha of Fairmont, Nebraska died on December 23, 2023 at the age of 83 at Ridgewood Rehabilitation & Care Center in Seward, Nebraska. Janice was born August 20, 1940 to Willard and Edith (Boden) Hulse in Friend, Nebraska. Janice moved from Friend to Fairmont, Nebraska at age 2, later attending country school and graduating from Fairmont High School in 1958 as Salutatorian. After graduating, she moved to Lincoln and worked for State Farm Insurance, transferring to Grand Island and finally to Boulder, Colorado. She held a life-long affection for the front range of Colorado, returning many times on vacation over the years. She moved back to Fairmont, Nebraska in 1961 and on February 12th was joined in marriage to Del Galusha. To this union four children were born, Dana Del, Daren Don, Jina Michelle and Joni Janelle. Janice started waiting tables for her lunches at the Tower Cafe at 12 years old and continued to work most of her life except for a couple of periods when her children were young. She worked as a secretary in insurance offices, as a bank teller at Farmers State Bank, a real estate assessor for Fillmore County, pastry baker for Chances R in York and cleaned houses. Hard-working and thrifty – often scouring clearance racks for bargains, always looking for the best deals and clipping coupons - she managed to grow enough savings to build a new house in 1993, her life-long dream. Janice spent many happy hours in her yard, garden and flower beds. She loved going to nurseries and arboretums, was a member of Audubon Society and the Geneva Garden Club. Many a bird or squirrel enjoyed the banquet she put out in her backyard. Janice loved fresh vegetables and fruit! If anyone had extra tomatoes or zucchini or a fruit tree ready to be harvested, they knew they could call Janice and she would come help pick, eat, distribute or can the abundance. Family was always the most important part of Janice’s life. Growing up in a close-knit family where material possessions weren’t always in abundance instilled in her many core values and shaped her character. Being the third of ten kids, she felt blessed to have a large family - seven sisters and two brothers - all of whom she maintained close relationships. Vacations and day trips were often to visit one or more of her siblings. The Hulse family picnics in Friend or later, at Harrison Park in York were always attended with great joy by many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Holiday gatherings of Janice’s siblings grew as their families grew to the point where Christmas was held at the Fairmont Legion Hall and the Summer Hulse family reunions were wonderful multi-day camping trips to Yankton, South Dakota. Janice was known for her independent fun-loving spirit, welcoming smile and infectious laugh, as well as her caring nature and generosity. She always made a special effort to mark every birthday, significant milestone and holiday with a whole family get-together whenever possible. She made sure everyone’s birthday was properly celebrated and holidays were special, especially Christmas. Her kids and grandkids looked forward to receiving their uniquely curated “Christmas box” full of all the thoughtful bargains she collected throughout the year. In fact, the invitation was always open to everyone to come for a visit as often as they could for whatever reason. She made a special effort to make all - boyfriend, girlfriend, or guest - feel like they were part of the family. Janice’s love for people and life was obvious to everyone who got to know her. Time spent with her grandchildren was dear to her heart. As much as was possible, she attended the events and extracurricular activities of her grandkids and praised every award, no matter how big or small. She made sure everyone knew they were important and appreciated. Fishing, camping and vacations with as many of her children and grandchildren as possible made many happy memories for everyone. If anyone even hinted at wanting to go somewhere or do something, she had tickets bought or a condo reserved before going to bed that night. Many trips to Branson and Orlando grew to include multiple extended families which started each day with Janice preparing breakfast for all. Janice had a wide variety of other interests including a love for music, reading and watching sports – especially Husker volleyball and basketball. After retiring, Del and Janice did a lot of traveling together including Hawaii, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Arizona, Washington D.C., New England, the Carolinas and Caribbean Cruises. Many locations were destinations that they had long wanted to see, made even better by a special fare, Amtrak 30-day passes, last call condo sales, BOGO or sometimes just free breakfast. Often these destinations included a stay or visit with a friend or family member. Janice is survived by children Dana Galusha and wife Sue (Sullivan) of Seward, Daren Galusha and wife Robin (Schake) of Fairmont, Jina Gibbs and husband Michael of Greenville, North Carolina, Joni Powers and husband Troy of Henderson; sister Donna Thompson of Fairmont; brothers-in-law Rex Becker of Kingman, Arizona and Donald Languis of Panama; sister Gloria Swartz and husband Jim of Marshall, Minnesota, brother Marvin Hulse and wife Corrine (Korbelik) of York, sister Cynthia Rethwisch and husband Jon of Wayne, sister Crystal Davis and husband Kevin of York; 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, North Carolina, Heather Korbelik of Greenville, North Carolina, Sarah Korbelik of Greenville, North Carolina, Hayden Powers of Henderson, Lane Powers of Henderson; and great-grandson Brayden Korbelik of Greenville, North Carolina; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other special extended family members and friends. Janice was preceded in death by her husband Charles Del Galusha; her parents Willard and Edith Hulse; sister Beverly Ely; brothers-in-law William Ely and George Thompson; sisters Judy Becker and Suzanne Languis; and brother Charles Hulse. The family would like to thank the staff at Ridgewood Rehabilitation & Care Center in Seward and Horizon Hospice for the compassionate care and support they provided to Janice and our family during the last months of her life.

Tributes

Janice Galusha

August 20, 1940 - December 23, 2023