William B. Galles

William B. Galles

Bill was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 2, 1937 and born into eternal life on October 7, 2024 at the age of 87.

In his youth, Bill enjoyed hanging out with friends and siblings at the neighborhood park. It was there that they played chess, basketball, and baseball. From an early age, Bill worked a newspaper route to save money for college. After graduating from Marquette High School in 1955, he continued his Jesuit education at Marquette University. Bill graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 1960 from Marquette University. He continued his education and completed his Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Wisconsin in Madison in 1965 and his Master’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee in 1966. In the meantime, Bill met the love of his life, Diane Searing, at a bar in Milwaukee. The couple enjoyed dating and attending CYO young adult activities together. While he wanted a PhD in Math, he decided he’d rather get married than go back to school. Bill and Diane were married in 1969.

Bill used his gifts to perform analytical and simulation work initially for aerospace and later for the automotive industry during his career spanning 40 years. A few years after they were married, he moved with his family to Kokomo, Indiana. Bill spent the latter part of his career at Delco Electronics developing airbag sensor modeling and simulation technology. In Kokomo, Bill and Diane raised their family of five boys. He loved coaching his sons’ Tee-ball teams and was most proud when they learned to run to first base. Bill and Diane were active members of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Kokomo for over 40 years. They also enjoyed attending live theater together at Melody Top in Milwaukee, WI and at Beef and Boards in Indianapolis, IN. 

Bill enjoyed gardening and especially had a green thumb for his favorites of kohlrabi and rhubarb. For many years after his retirement, he tutored students working toward their GED in reading and math through the Literacy Coalition of Kokomo/Howard County. Bill also enjoyed going to the “Y” to swim as well as working Sudoku puzzles. Bill’s favorite books to read were the Bible, and those written by Winston Churchill, James Michener, and Virgil – particularly the quote from the Aeneid, “Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit.” Bill was a huge fan of St. John Paul II, Ronald Reagan, Marquette, and of course the Green Bay Packers. Most of all, Bill loved being a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a great-grandfather and he cherished spending his time visiting with all of his extended family.

Bill is survived by his sons, Joseph (Tara) Galles, Kevin (Sandra) Galles, Robert (Maria) Galles, Steven Galles, Jeffrey (Lindsey) Galles, 21 grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters. Bill is preceded in death by his wife Diane (Searing) Galles, his parents Rex Peter Galles and Lillian (Szymanski), and his siblings Charles Galles, James Galles, Shirley (Marelli) Galles, Gerald Galles, Joan (Muryn) Galles, Robert Galles, and John Galles.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, October 12 from 9 AM to 10 AM at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church in Westfield, IN. A funeral Mass will follow the visitation beginning at 10 AM.

Bill will be laid to rest at Hamilton Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Bill’s name to his favorite charities: Birthright of Kokomo and EWTN.