ALLOUEZ — Fr. John Gallagher died on July 8, three days short of his 53-year anniversary as a priest. He was 87.
Fr. Gallagher, a Milwaukee native, entered seminary at age 23 for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I changed my career nine times from high school on,” he said in a 2021 interview with The Compass for his 50-year jubilee. “I didn’t want to work in a factory or office. I knew I wanted to work with people. I enjoyed parties and everything else. Then, one time, during a party, I thought there has to be more than this.”
Fr. Gallagher’s parents, Dominic and Anna (Nemetz) Gallagher, who were Manitowoc natives, returned to the area from Milwaukee. As a result, while studying at St. Francis Seminary in St. Francis, near Milwaukee, Fr. Gallagher sought to become a priest for the Diocese of Green Bay.
He was incardinated into the diocese on May 13, 1971, and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Aloysius Wycislo on July 11, 1971, at St. Andrew Church in Manitowoc.
His first priestly appointment was associate pastor (parochial vicar) at St. Andrew Parish, Manitowoc. He also served as associate pastor at St. Bernadette Parish, Appleton; St. Francis Xavier Parish, De Pere; and Holy Innocents Parish, Manitowoc. In addition, he served as a temporary administrator at St. Mary Parish, De Pere.
In 1979, Fr. Gallagher was appointed pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Goodman for one year, and then pastor of St. Ann Parish, Saint Anna for three years.
In 1983, he was appointed pastor of St. Hyacinth Parish, Antigo, where he served for six years, followed by a little more than a year as pastor at St. Mary Parish, De Pere. Fr. Gallagher then became administrator of St. John Parish, Gillett, for one year.
In 1991, he was appointed pastor of St. John Parish, Gillett, and St. Martin of Tours Parish, Cecil, where he served for 16 years.
During that time, Fr. Gallagher also served in various parish locations as temporary administrator or priest moderator, including Station at Chute Lake; St. Mary, Peshtigo; SS. Joseph and Edward Parish, Walsh; St. Anthony Parish, Oconto Falls; St. Patrick Parish, Stiles; SS. Francis-Wenceslaus Parish, Coleman/Klondike; and Holy Cross Parish, Lena.
Fr. Gallagher retired to senior priest status in 2007 and continued to celebrate Mass at various parishes.
“The geography of the diocese is remarkably educational in the variety that makes up the church,” Fr. Gallagher said in 2021 in reference to the various parishes he served. “Yet, the variety is so connected by our individual humanness. Many dreams have been fulfilled, but the few not accomplished are not hard to relinquish if it is God’s will.”
In reflection at the time of his golden jubilee as a priest, Fr. Gallagher said that he learned great lessons through his ministry.
“That there is a God. That I’m not him. I learned forgiveness; it took a while,” he said. “I learned that religion is a decision, not a performance. If we’re performing, we’re just entertainers. You’ve got to live the faith. It takes a lifetime to learn it. With God’s grace and mercy, we will pass the course when it’s our time.”
Visitation will be on Sunday, July 14, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. with a prayer service to follow at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Francis of Assisi Parish-Grand Avenue site, 1416 Grand Ave., Manitowoc. Visitation continues on Monday, July 15, from 9 to 10 a.m. at the same location.
The funeral Mass will follow at 10 a.m. with Bishop David Ricken as celebrant and Fr. Doug LeCaptain as homilist. Burial will follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Manitowoc.