Galen Jerome Koll

Galen J. Koll, 68, of Sunburg, MN and Centerville, IA, died unexpectedly on Friday, July 1st, at CentraCare Hospital in Sauk Centre.

A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, July 29th, at 10:00 am at First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake in rural New London. There will be time to gather, remember, and have a cup of coffee, for an hour before the Service. Directly after the Service, the family (and friends who wish to join them), will leave for Internment at Camp Ripley Veteran’s Cemetery in Little Falls, MN.  Arrangements are entrusted to Peterson Brothers Green Lake Funeral Home in Spicer.  www.petersonbrothers.com

Galen was born in Morgan, MN to Leo and Gertrude (Tauer) Koll on December 18th, 1953. He grew up in Olivia, graduating from High School in 1972. He enlisted in the Army, where he served proudly for many years. Galen worked a number of jobs over the years; as a custodian (30 yrs) at New London/Spicer schools, as a foster parent for LSS, in “retirement” at Divine House in Willmar.

In all aspects of his life, Galen was a helper…whether reaching out to kids at school and as a foster parent, building homes and putting in stoves in Guatemala, or working with those less fortunate. Even after death, he donated his bone, skin, and corneas to help others in need. He would be so proud! Galen was a hard worker, with a kind and generous nature, and he had friends everywhere! If you needed help, he was there. He was a collector…of old cars, friends, useful (and useless) things, “junk”, memories, stories. Relationships mattered to him. He loved his family, little kids, old cars, his 57’ Chevy, old friends, horses, auctions, liver dumplings, breakfasts with friends, and a “good deal”. If you met him, you remembered him.

Those left to navigate the space without this good man, are his children Becky (Brian) Bzdok of Royalton, MN, Jen Koll of St. Cloud, Ashley (fiancee’Justin Hudson) Koll and Adam (Desiree) Koll of Mystic, IA, and Aron (Kendra Huebner) Koll of Centerville, IA. Grandchildren Annabelle, Aleah, Isaiah, Spencer, Ivy, Faith, Heaven, Ava, and Asher. Siblings Sharon, Audrey, Loren, Quentin, Mavis, Cindy, Jody, and Shelly, his god-daughter Molly, good friend Beth, his “car buddies”, numerous nephews and nieces, and SO many friends.

Waiting to greet him warmly were his parents, Leo and Gertrude, his favorite horse Shatan, and good friend Sarah.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Galen’s favorite charities are preferred: St. Jude's, and Stoves for Guatemala, (Magnifi Financial, P.O. Box 209, Paynesville, MN 56363, or www.helping-guatemala.com