Irvin Galusha

On Father's Day, Irvin Lee Galusha passed away at his home near Little York, IL. He was a wonderful Dad to his four children: Mary Ann (Ken Eiserman), Russell (Carol Arterburn), Cherry (David Simmons), and Tom (Sandy Armstrong). Irvin celebrated his ninety-third birthday on June 14, Flag Day, in classic Irv Style: visiting with everyone and watching his great grandchildren play. He was born near Biggsville in 1922 to Orville and Ingeborg (Jensen) Galusha. His parents lived near Berwick where his father farmed, and he attended Muddy Corners Grade School. After a brief move to Alexis, the family came back to Berwick and Irvin graduated from Roseville High School in 1940. One more move took Irvin's family to Little York where fate led him to the door of Doris Dee Russell. They were married on March 23, 1949 and spent forty years together until her death, January 7, 1990. During their early years, Irvin worked at the Creamery in Galesburg until he began farming the Russell land raising cattle and hogs and growing corn on the bottom lands near Bald Bluff. He also painted houses, churches, and barns with Artie Kitterman, a lifelong Little York resident, and Irvin drove a bus for the Little York School District for a brief time. In 1971, while serving on the Farm Bureau board, Irvin saw the construction and opening of the Stronghurst Farm Bureau building. He soon became the Manager and remained in this position when Warren and Henderson Counties merged. He retired in 1987. Irvin was a member of the Little York Methodist Church where he was a lay minister and Sunday school teacher. Later, he joined the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Kirkwood where he helped with many improvement projects. Over the years, Irvin stayed busy with family activities, church dinners, his fun-filled coffee group, and traveling. He especially enjoyed his winter trips to Arizona with is friend Don Stansell. Irvin has eight grandchildren, Melissa Eiserman (Jeff Urbaszewski), Harrison and Abbey Galusha, Holly (Matt) Seitz, Heather (Adam) Boyle, Halee (Tom) Williams, and Brandon and Michael Galusha. He also has six great grandchildren; Anna Lyon, Jackson and Grace Seitz, Irelynn and David Boyle, and Berklee Williams. Finally, he has felt blessed to have his brother and sister-in-law, Eugene and Mildred (Ross) Galusha, and his sister, Beulah Burgland so close Preceding Irvin in death: his parents, wife, brother, Elwood, his sister in law, Leora (Icenogle) Galusha, and his brother in law, Jack Burgland. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 2, 2015 at McGuire & Davies Funeral Home and Crematory, Monmouth. Burial will be in Monmouth Cemetery. Friends may call Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at the McGuire & Davies Funeral Home where his family will be present from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Memorials may be given to Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center in Monmouth or the Western Illinois Animal Rescue. For more information or to leave an online condolence please visit, www.mcguireanddaviesfuneralhome.com.