Bruce T. Galley

BRUCE GALLEY Of Elburn, passed away unexpectedly at his home, after a long illness, Saturday, July 1, 2006. BORN / EARLY YEARSHe was born January 21, 1948 in Rochester, New York. Adopted as a baby, he was small and under-nourished when Hollis and Dorothy Galley took him home. Bruce needed surgery and some true "Galley" love to flourish and indeed, he did. He grew up in nearby Penfield, NY where he attended local schools and proudly became an Eagle Scout. From his youth, Bruce was athletic and very bright. Well ahead of his peers in many ways, he was bored and his teenage years brought trouble that lead him to enlist in the Navy in 1965. MILITARY:He served in Viet Nam on the USS Belle Grove and the U.S.S. Hornet. He was on leave from the Hornet when he met Susan Denny on the beach at Belmont Shores, CA. She was beautiful and Bruce was a brash and bold Navy boy. As Bruce returned for one more tour of duty, he knew someone very special had entered his life. Months passed, and when Bruce was discharged in January it took only a few months for him to find and marry Susan. They soon returned to Wasco, IL with their daughter, Brandi, to make their home with Susan’s parents. OCCUPATION / WORK HISTORY On advice from a friend, Bruce interviewed with Illinois Bell Telephone and was hired as a lineman. Fate would introduce Bruce to Ron Hale and the two of them together were a one-two-punch that became their supervisor’s nightmare. Bruce could read prints better than most engineers and his practical experience instantly saw both flaws and opportunities. He would call a "spade a spade" in language that was un-mistakably clear. Just as the shock was setting in, Ron would follow up to "finesse the spade", save the company and themselves. In reality, their teamwork saved the company thousands of dollars and hours and they sincerely enjoyed every battle. Ironically, "saving face" was Bruce’s "saving grace" and the very thing the "brass" may have hated, made them miss him when he retired in 1999. MEMBERSHIPSBruce never forgot his friends in uniform nor the things they faced together. He always gave to Viet Nam Veterans and P.O.W. charities to help those less fortunate than himself. Though he loved people, Bruce always danced to the beat of his own drummer and deep down, was very private. Following the sudden death of his daughter, Brandi, in 1990, Bruce grieved deeply and his private side seemed to take him farther and farther from friends and family. Though he was surrounded by love, he could not and would not escape the grip of alcohol that came to dominate his life and stole from his family, the man he once was. Released at last, from his own prison, he leaves his loved ones to celebrate the man that he truly was; to leave behind what is history, and to claim for themselves the peace and joy they deserve. SURVIVORS He is survived by his wife, Susan,Three children: Jason (Vivian) Galley of Anchorage, Alaska, Stephanie Galley of Union City, New Jersey, Natalie Galley of San Diego, California,One granddaughter: Margaret Galley,One sister:Sandra D. (Richard) Kleiner of Adams, MA A half-brother and sister:Dale (Eileen) Galley of Cheektowaga, NY andDenise (Herbert) Clarke of Naples, NY His mother-in-law, Della Denny of Batavia, IL, And one sister-in-law, Nancy Denny of Hackettstown, NJ,Several nieces and nephews and many friends. PRECEDED He is preceded in death by his daughter, Brandi (1990), Both his parents, Hollis and Dorothy Galley,his father-in-law, Peter J. Denny andone brother-in-law, D. Michael Denny.MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in Bruce’s name to benefit Vietnam Veterans and POW/MIA charities and to perpetuate Bruce’s memory. Memorials checks may be made to the Bruce Galley Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through his obituary at www.conleycare.com

A memorial open house to celebrate his life, will be held Friday, July 7, 2006 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL, from 4pm to 6 pm. At 6:30pm the family will begin an "open mic" time with their own eulogy. Friends attending are invited to share memories and tributes as well.

Private cremation committal services will later be held according to Bruce’s wishes.