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Goldie Rae Galliano

September 27, 1932 September 1, 2024
Goldie Rae Galliano
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Obituary for Goldie Rae Galliano

Loving wife, mother, and grandmother Goldie Rae Galliano passed away on September 1, 2024, at the age of 91 surrounded by her family at home.


On September 27, 1932, Goldie Rae Galliano (nee Johnson) was born in Roosevelt, Oklahoma, to Goldie and Raymond Johnson. Goldie Rae was born into humble means and raised by her mother and grandmother, Leda Bonner ("Mama"), in a modest three-room home in Clayton, OK. Clayton-living didn't always come easy, but some of Goldie Rae's cherished memories growing up there were waking up to the smell of her Mama's breakfasts, walking down the gravel road with her best friend to school, and sitting on their porch while she watched the moon rise over the Kiamichi mountains. When she was 5 years old Salvation Army workers knocked on her door and gifted her her first pair of shoes, a story she would recount with a glimmer in her eye because she remembers how excited she was to have her own pair of shoes.


Goldie Rae graduated high school and later attended Southeastern State Teachers College in Durant, OK. She was an active member of Alpha Sigma Tau sorority, where she made long lasting friendships, and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business in 1953. In 1951, Douglas Galliano, a young Airman Second-Class who was stationed at a nearby Air Force base knew he wanted to marry Goldie Rae when he saw her walking down a flight of stairs. One year later, on October 4, 1952, they were married in Durant, OK. It was a small, no-frills ceremony. Goldie Rae looked radiant. Three weeks later, Doug was deployed to Japan where he served in the Korean War for 18 months. When he returned he met their daughter, 9 month old Alpha Jean. In another year, they would welcome their second daughter Omega JoDean. Goldie Rae was devoted to her two girls.


As a family, they would live in Texas, Oklahoma, and Iowa. Goldie Rae taught Business in several schools in Iowa before her and Douglas took a break to run the Sunshine Marina in Centerville, Iowa, for 9 years. They returned to teaching when they moved to Earlham and then finally settled back in Stuart in 1984. It was during this return to teaching that Goldie Rae earned her Master's degree from Drake University in Special Education. She taught Special Education at Stuart-Menlo until her retirement in 1994.


Upon retirement, Goldie Rae and Douglas spent time traveling the country in their motorhome spending lots of time with their daughters; Omega in Las Vegas and Alpha and her family in Green Bay. They ultimately spent winters in South Texas near Brownsville parking their motorhome and going on many adventures in the area with friends and welcoming family visitors. Summers were spent at home in Stuart gardening and catching up on the many social activities she was involved in. Throughout her life she was an active member in many local Stuart groups such as Delphians, PEO, and with a particular affinity for her work with Friends of the Library. Always an avid reader, Goldie Rae also spent her time gardening, cooking, walking and water aerobics, sitting at the kitchen table talking and laughing with friends, and watching so much football with Doug.


Goldie Rae was the beloved mother to her daughters, Alpha and Omega, who she raised with unconditional love, compassion, and kindness. She was a proud grandmother to Melissa and Amanda, and beamed with love for her great-grandchildren, Goldie Rae Mendelson (her namesake) and Douglas Siegler. Goldie Rae had a heart of gold wrapped in platinum. She will be missed beyond comprehension and her legacy of love and kindness will carry on in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.


The family thanks everyone for their love, kindness, and friendship during the last year. Goldie Rae died surrounded by the love of so many and we are forever grateful.


Goldie Rae was preceded in death by her “mama” Leda Bonner, mother Goldie Johnson, father Raymond Johnson, sister-in-law Janet Broshuis, and daughter-in-law Fran Joslin.


Goldie is survived by her husband Douglas, her daughters Alpha Mendelson (Ron Vice), Omega Galliano, granddaughters Melissa Mendelson (Dan Richmond), Amanda Mendelson (Ben Siegler), and great-grandchildren Goldie Rae Mendelson and Douglas Siegler, sister-in-law Donita Christensen and so many beloved nieces and nephews.


A public viewing will be held Thursday, September 5th from 5:30 to 7:00 P.M. at Johnson Family Funeral Home in Stuart, IA.  A private graveside service will be held for family. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to some of Goldie Rae’s favorite organizations: Stuart Fire and Rescue, AHeinz57 Pet Rescue, and the Stuart Public Library.


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Previous Events

Visitation

Thursday

5

Sep

5:30 PM 9/5/2024 5:30:00 PM - 7:00 PM 9/5/2024 7:00:00 PM
Johnson Family Funeral Home - Stuart

123 N.E. 2nd St
Stuart,, IA 50250

Johnson Family Funeral Home - Stuart
123 N.E. 2nd St Stuart, 50250 IA
United States

Cemetery Details

Location

South Oak Grove Final Resting Place

NE 7th Street
Stuart, IA 50250

NE 7th Street Stuart 50250 IA
United States
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