Arlene Ann (Konz) Galles, 92 of Remsen, IA passed away on Friday, Sept. 9, 2016 at Floyd Valley Hospital in LeMars, IA.
Funeral services will be 10:30 am Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen with Rev. William McCarthy officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Remsen. Visitation with family present will be 4-8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 12, 2016, there will be a parish rosary at 5 p.m. and a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m. all at Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen.
Arlene was born on April 26, 1924 at rural Alton, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Emma (Mousel) Konz. She was born and raised on a farm near Alton and attended her first 2 years at a country school before attending St. Mary’s Academy in Alton. She graduated from 8th grade in 1939.
On Jan. 3, 1944 she married Milton Galles at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton. They farmed and lived near Marcus for 1 year then moved to the Struble area for 2 years before making their permanent home on their farm north of Remsen where they farmed and ran a trucking business. They moved into Remsen in 1987. Milton passed away on Feb. 12, 2005 after 61 years of marriage.
Arlene was a member of Remsen St. Mary’s Church, church guild and Catholic Daughters of America. Before she moved to town she was kept busy keeping books for the farm and trucking business, raising chickens and selling eggs, gardening and canning, cooking and baking for the family and hired men. She is known by many for her homemade bread, pies, soups and chocolate popcorn balls. Arlene especially enjoyed spending time with her family, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and playing pinochle with friends and family. She also loved living across from St. Mary’s Church and school where she could watch the kids while they were out for recess and watch all the progress made of the church’s restorations.
Arlene is survived by her son, Dale (Rose) Galles of Marcus, IA; daughters, Mary (Pete) Block of Sioux City, IA, Marilyn (Terry) Bunkers of Remsen, Audrey (Gilbert) Weiler of LeMars, IA, Carol (Gary) Christoffel of Granville, IA, Bonnie (Stan) Meyer of Ireton, IA, Laurie (Alan) Schroeder of Granville, IA, and Karen (Randy) Portz of Remsen, IA; one sister, Ann Shea of Primghar, IA, two brothers, Leander (Jane) Konz of Remsen, IA and Joe (Germaine) Konz of Granville, IA, 44 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by her parents, her husband Milton, a son, Donald in 2009, grandchildren, Dustin Christoffel, Angel Bunkers, Anita Block-Rodgers and Brent Weiler, one great-grandson, Travis James Weiler. Parents-in-law, Mike and Ann Galles, sister, Margie (Marvin) Galles, brother, Loyal Konz, brothers and sisters-in-law, Arnold and Colletta Galles, Martin and Evelyn Pottebaum, Don Shea and Emmanuel Galles.
Casket bearers will be Brady Portz, Kyle Bunkers, Austin Meyer, Doug Schroeder, Tanner Christoffel and Cory Weiler.