The Matriarch of the Gallagher family, Nancy Elizabeth Gallagher (Popst), passed away peacefully with family by her side on January 25, 2014. Nancy’s amazing life started in the beautiful mining town of Fairplay, Colorado on May 23, 1934 as the sixth daughter of William (Bill) Popst and Emelia Popst (Schnurbusch).
Nancy moved to Boulder in 1941 onto 1010 Lincoln with her family where she attended Whittier Elementary, Casey Junior High, and Boulder High School. She took great pride in being a Casey Cub and Boulder Panther. While attending Casey Junior High she met Terry Gallagher, the man she would marry. It wasn’t until after her high school graduation in1952 that Terry was finally able to use his Irish blue eyes to convince Nancy to be his steady girlfriend. For the next few years the roots of love truly began to grow and Nancy and Terry decided to commit their love and lives to each other by marrying on August 20,1955 at Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic church in Boulder. This union produced five children: Kathleen, Terry Jr., Mike, Mary, and Dan.
Nancy worked several jobs early in her marriage including being a teller and a trainer at First National Bank. As the family grew she took great pride in being a housewife and raising her children. She was very involved at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic school as her children progressed through their Catholic education. She was a room mother, home and school board member, and a volunteer in many areas. Terry and Nancy shared the athletic director role for 15 years. She was instrumental in adding to the successful boys basketball program, girls basketball and volleyball teams that sent numerous kids to successful high school careers at Boulder, Monarch, Fairview, Regis, and Holy Family. She became a lifelong basketball fan during this time. When her own children went on to play she spent untold hours driving them and spending time in gyms around the state. When her boys played in college, she and Terry traveled around the country to watch them play. She became one of the finest judges of coaches and a knowledgeable referee sitting in the stands during those thousands of games. As the next generation arrived and started to play sports, she and Terry spent many weekends and nights in the stands cheering on their grandchildren. Outside of the love of her life, Terry, and raising her children, supporting and cheering at sporting events was her passion.
Nancy was the consummate wife to Terry. They worked many jobs and long hours together to provide for their family and improve their lot in life. Nancy and Terry bought an old house on the CU campus and moved it from town to the Gallagher Farm north of Boulder in 1956. This little two bedroom house evolved at her finger tips during many dusty days and became the Gallagher home where her great cooking and open arms allowed her to be a hostess to many family members, neighborhood friends, and all of the children that came to the farm to play. Nancy enjoyed living on the working farm and took great pleasure seeing all of her children participate in 4-H at the Boulder County Fair, the stock show, and the state fair. Nancy and Terry would remain in the home for over 40 years, the home now shelters Dan’s family.
Their mining and farming backgrounds gave them a tremendous work ethic that translated into many successes and Nancy supported Terry in his climb to president of Asamera Oil. She was so proud of him and she was the ultimate “corporate wife” in helping him in his achievements. Nancy loved to travel and she and Terry were able to travel the world through the years. One of her proudest days was in 1984 when she and Terry partnered with the kids and bought Gasamat Oil Corp. and the Gallagher family business began. She loved how the company grew and evolved and that 10 family members were active in the business at the time of her death.
Family was the core of her life. She had six sisters; Evelyn, Ann, Doris , Aileen, Mary Jean, Carol Jo, and one brother, Jack. She loved them all and is survived by her baby sister, Carol Jo. She loved all of the many nieces and nephews of her sisters and brothers-in-law. One of her favorite stories was that she was one of seven sisters and one brother and that Terry was one of seven brothers and one sister.
Nancy’s mother, Emelia, lived with her and Terry and the children at the end of Emelia’s life, and like all of her sisters, Nancy had a wonderful relationship with her mom. Living on the Gallagher Farm, Nancy had a great relationship with Terry’s mom, Izah, and a long friendship with Terry’s sister, Mary Gallagher, who lived next door. Nancy enjoyed all of the Gallagher brothers and their large extended family. Nancy also loved her neighbors, the Lousbergs, very much and her and Terry’s social activities included them throughout their lives.
Nancy had a deep faith in God and a love of her Catholic heritage. She was involved at Sacred Heart at the Altar and Rosary, and loved volunteering. She watched many pastors and associate priests move through SHJ and was not shy about giving her opinions and letting them know the history of the church and school. Nancy was a long time member of SERRA International and a great supporter of the Catholic vocations. Nancy was a very charitable woman and she and Terry supported many great causes with time, talent, and money.
Nancy is survived by her husband of 58 years, Terry, their children; Kathleen and Steve Schmieding, children Elizabeth (Ryan) Gage, Thomas (Diane) Allen, Emelia (Andy) Salonen, children Michael (Katherine), Steve Jr. (Jamie) and daughter Bette, Bo (Bonnie) and children Ivan and Holden; Terry (Windy) Gallagher and their children, Patrick and his son Jack, Keelan (Zacarii) and Colin; Mike (Kris) Gallagher, his son Jon, and Nik and Hunter Britegam; Mary Szarmach and her children, Jacque and Joe, Dana (George) and son Clayton, Dan; Dan (Rhonda) Gallagher and their children Liam and Grace. Nancy was preceded in death by her five sisters and one brother, and her grandson, Matthew Gallagher.
Visitation will be held Tuesday January 28, 2014 from 5:30pm-6:30pm followed by a Rosary at 6:30pm at Sacred Heart of Jesus. Visitation will also be from 9:00am-10:00am Wednesday morning followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00am at Sacred Heart of Jesus with Father Chris Renner officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Boulder with reception to be followed at location to be announced.
Contribution in lieu of flowers to: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (Denver Chapter) rockymountain.jdrf.org ; Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (Colorado Chapter) cff.org/chapters/Colorado ; Alzheimer's Association (Colorado Chapter) alz.org/co ; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Boulder, Colorado shjboulder.org
Nancy moved to Boulder in 1941 onto 1010 Lincoln with her family where she attended Whittier Elementary, Casey Junior High, and Boulder High School. She took great pride in being a Casey Cub and Boulder Panther. While attending Casey Junior High she met Terry Gallagher, the man she would marry. It wasn’t until after her high school graduation in1952 that Terry was finally able to use his Irish blue eyes to convince Nancy to be his steady girlfriend. For the next few years the roots of love truly began to grow and Nancy and Terry decided to commit their love and lives to each other by marrying on August 20,1955 at Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic church in Boulder. This union produced five children: Kathleen, Terry Jr., Mike, Mary, and Dan.
Nancy worked several jobs early in her marriage including being a teller and a trainer at First National Bank. As the family grew she took great pride in being a housewife and raising her children. She was very involved at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic school as her children progressed through their Catholic education. She was a room mother, home and school board member, and a volunteer in many areas. Terry and Nancy shared the athletic director role for 15 years. She was instrumental in adding to the successful boys basketball program, girls basketball and volleyball teams that sent numerous kids to successful high school careers at Boulder, Monarch, Fairview, Regis, and Holy Family. She became a lifelong basketball fan during this time. When her own children went on to play she spent untold hours driving them and spending time in gyms around the state. When her boys played in college, she and Terry traveled around the country to watch them play. She became one of the finest judges of coaches and a knowledgeable referee sitting in the stands during those thousands of games. As the next generation arrived and started to play sports, she and Terry spent many weekends and nights in the stands cheering on their grandchildren. Outside of the love of her life, Terry, and raising her children, supporting and cheering at sporting events was her passion.
Nancy was the consummate wife to Terry. They worked many jobs and long hours together to provide for their family and improve their lot in life. Nancy and Terry bought an old house on the CU campus and moved it from town to the Gallagher Farm north of Boulder in 1956. This little two bedroom house evolved at her finger tips during many dusty days and became the Gallagher home where her great cooking and open arms allowed her to be a hostess to many family members, neighborhood friends, and all of the children that came to the farm to play. Nancy enjoyed living on the working farm and took great pleasure seeing all of her children participate in 4-H at the Boulder County Fair, the stock show, and the state fair. Nancy and Terry would remain in the home for over 40 years, the home now shelters Dan’s family.
Their mining and farming backgrounds gave them a tremendous work ethic that translated into many successes and Nancy supported Terry in his climb to president of Asamera Oil. She was so proud of him and she was the ultimate “corporate wife” in helping him in his achievements. Nancy loved to travel and she and Terry were able to travel the world through the years. One of her proudest days was in 1984 when she and Terry partnered with the kids and bought Gasamat Oil Corp. and the Gallagher family business began. She loved how the company grew and evolved and that 10 family members were active in the business at the time of her death.
Family was the core of her life. She had six sisters; Evelyn, Ann, Doris , Aileen, Mary Jean, Carol Jo, and one brother, Jack. She loved them all and is survived by her baby sister, Carol Jo. She loved all of the many nieces and nephews of her sisters and brothers-in-law. One of her favorite stories was that she was one of seven sisters and one brother and that Terry was one of seven brothers and one sister.
Nancy’s mother, Emelia, lived with her and Terry and the children at the end of Emelia’s life, and like all of her sisters, Nancy had a wonderful relationship with her mom. Living on the Gallagher Farm, Nancy had a great relationship with Terry’s mom, Izah, and a long friendship with Terry’s sister, Mary Gallagher, who lived next door. Nancy enjoyed all of the Gallagher brothers and their large extended family. Nancy also loved her neighbors, the Lousbergs, very much and her and Terry’s social activities included them throughout their lives.
Nancy had a deep faith in God and a love of her Catholic heritage. She was involved at Sacred Heart at the Altar and Rosary, and loved volunteering. She watched many pastors and associate priests move through SHJ and was not shy about giving her opinions and letting them know the history of the church and school. Nancy was a long time member of SERRA International and a great supporter of the Catholic vocations. Nancy was a very charitable woman and she and Terry supported many great causes with time, talent, and money.
Nancy is survived by her husband of 58 years, Terry, their children; Kathleen and Steve Schmieding, children Elizabeth (Ryan) Gage, Thomas (Diane) Allen, Emelia (Andy) Salonen, children Michael (Katherine), Steve Jr. (Jamie) and daughter Bette, Bo (Bonnie) and children Ivan and Holden; Terry (Windy) Gallagher and their children, Patrick and his son Jack, Keelan (Zacarii) and Colin; Mike (Kris) Gallagher, his son Jon, and Nik and Hunter Britegam; Mary Szarmach and her children, Jacque and Joe, Dana (George) and son Clayton, Dan; Dan (Rhonda) Gallagher and their children Liam and Grace. Nancy was preceded in death by her five sisters and one brother, and her grandson, Matthew Gallagher.
Visitation will be held Tuesday January 28, 2014 from 5:30pm-6:30pm followed by a Rosary at 6:30pm at Sacred Heart of Jesus. Visitation will also be from 9:00am-10:00am Wednesday morning followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00am at Sacred Heart of Jesus with Father Chris Renner officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Boulder with reception to be followed at location to be announced.
Contribution in lieu of flowers to: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (Denver Chapter) rockymountain.jdrf.org ; Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (Colorado Chapter) cff.org/chapters/Colorado ; Alzheimer's Association (Colorado Chapter) alz.org/co ; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Boulder, Colorado shjboulder.org
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