Gaylen Eugene Galvin

Gaylen Eugene Galvin, age 87, of Holstein, passed away on Wednesday, October 04, 2023 at the MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center of Sioux City.  A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 10:00 AM at the Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church of Holstein with the Fr. Dan Rupp officiating.  Burial will be at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery of Ida Grove.  A visitation will be held on Friday, October 13, 2023 from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM with a Recitation of the Rosary at 4:30 PM at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Holstein.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the family.

Gaylen was the son of Francis and Lyda (Witt) Galvin and was born December 30, 1935, on a farm in rural Ida County, IA.  Gaylen was an only child and spent his childhood working his parent's farm while attending a one-room country school.  He attended high school in Holstein, graduating in 1954.  Gaylen married Carol Marie Hargens on November 27, 1956, in Ida Grove, Iowa, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  During the early years of their marriage, Gaylen proudly served in the Army National Guard.  Gaylen and Carol lived and worked on their farm in addition to raising five children until moving to Holstein in 1986.  They celebrated over 50 years of marriage until Carol's unexpected passing in 2007.  Gaylen dedicated his entire life to farming.  He tilled his own land and raised livestock for more than 8 decades.  In addition, he served the agricultural community as a chemical applicator and feed delivery specialist for Vohs and Miller and later FCA until his retirement at age 79.  Gaylen was well known for putting together jigsaw puzzles, and he enjoyed sharing time spent doing this hobby with his children and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol; his parents; his sisters-in-law and spouses, Betty and Ken Stoneking; Janice and Joe Terry, Judy, and Bob Obbink; and his nieces, Janella and Julie Terry; and his nephew, Mel Pudenz.

Those surviving are his children, Leo Eugene Galvin (Michele Hanson) of Cherokee, Iowa; Patrick James Galvin of Holstein; Julie Marie Galvin (Kelvin Terry) of Roanoke Rapids, N.C.; Jeffrey Ernest (Tamara (Hechtner)) Galvin of Lincoln, N.E; and Delane Francis and (Teresa (Mollhoff)) Galvin of Ankeny, Iowa; his grandchildren, Justin Galvin, Jesse Galvin, Patricia (Ben) Martin, Jake (Megan) Galvin, Blake Terry and Nicole Terry, Quinn Galvin, Abigail Galvin, and Brody Galvin; great-grandchildren, Hailey Galvin, Aubree and Braxton Galvin; Blair, Elizabeth and Kinzal Martin; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins.