Emmett P. Gallagher

MADISON-Emmett P. Gallagher, age 89, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at his granddaughter, Shelby’s home after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia. Emmett was born on March 6, 1923, in Madison, the son of Charles and Julietta Gallagher. He graduated from West High School and was drafted and served proudly in the U.S. Army. Emmett married Kathryn Coughlin on July 1, 1950, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marshall. Emmett was a charter member of St. Dennis Catholic Church, long-time member of the East Side Club and Monona Senior Center. Emmett loved sports, playing cards, going for walks, gardening and dancing. He showed his unconditional love to his family in all ways, big and small. He was a man of great integrity and could usually go with the flow no matter how many challenges he faced with his declining illness or with life in general. Emmett worked hard all his life and always had compassion for others, even during his illness. He enjoyed being a Borden milkman for 32 years and after retirement working for Care Cabs and M&I Bank. Emmett is survived by his daughter, Sue Davidson; granddaughters, Shelby (Dan) Westover and Tami (Mindy) Bucholtz; great-grandchildren, Kayla and Cameron Westover and Brittany and Kayla Radtke; an amazing sister-in-law, Evelyn Yaeggi; many wonderful nieces and nephews; as well as many other relatives and good friends. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Kay; sister, Margaret Garfoot; brothers-in-law, John Garfoot and Marvin Coughlin; and his parents. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23, 2012, with Father Kent Schmitt presiding. Burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens at 10 a.m. on Thursday. Visitation will be at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, and also at the church from 1 p.m. until the time of Mass on Wednesday. A special thanks to Shelby and her family for all their love and care of their Grandpa. Also, thank you to the hospice caregivers that came and helped Emmett towards the end. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family. Family and friends will miss his friendly smile, great sense of humor, Irish twinkle in his eyes and above all his kindness to ALL! Emmett will be forever loved and forever missed but he gave his family many fond memories that will never be forgotten. Cemetery: Burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens at 10 a.m. on Thursday. Visitation will be at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, and also at the church from 1 p.m. until the time of Mass on Wednesday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23, 2012, with Father Kent Schmitt presiding.