John “Jack” Gallagher, MSgt. USMC (Ret), 86 of Salina passed away Wednesday, December 26, 2018. He was born in 1932, in New York City, to William and Marion (Kogel) Gallagher. He married Dorothy DeCola Gallagher on August 5, 1967. He began his 20-year career in the Marine Corps in 1950 with his first tour of duty in Korea during that conflict. His last tour of duty was in Vietnam the war. Upon retirement from the Marines, he began a 23-year career as a Salina Police officer, retiring as a Lieutenant in 1993.
Jack was a Life Member of the Tri-Rivers Marine Corps League, VFW, Disabled American Veterans, USMC Tankers Association, USMC Drill Instructors Assn, Kansas Peace Officers Assn. He is a past board member of Crimestoppers. For 43 years he served as the Sgt at Arms for Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies. He was also Sgt at Arms for the Police Memorial Services for many years.
He is survived by: his wife; children, daughter Tracie (Scott) Grebin; son, Colin Gallagher; grandchildren, Hollie Grebin, Shane Grebin, Ainsley Gallagher, Cooper Gallagher; greatgrandchildren, Wyatt Koehn, Raith Perrin, Brielle Perrin, and Malaki Grebin; sister, Marion Pfeiffer; brothers, Thomas and Dennis Gallagher.
He is preceded in death by: his parents; brother, William Gallagher; sisters, Arline Pepper and Kathleen Sinnott.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. with family receiving friends from 5-7 p.m. Friday, January 4, 2019 at Ryan Mortuary. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, January 5, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Salina. Burial will follow at Gypsum Hill Cemetery, Salina.
Memorials may be made to the Tri-Rivers Marine Corps League Toy Box program and the Salina Community Theatre, in care of Ryan Mortuary.