Martin Aloysius Galis

MARTIN A. GALIS June 21, 1926 – October 28, 2020 Martin A. Galis, 94, of Arlington, Texas, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 28, 2020. Martin Aloysius Galis was born in Chicago, IL., June 21, 1926 to Martin F. Galis and Mary Ann (Lacko) Galis. He married Sheila (Breen) in 1953. They met when they both were attendants at the wedding of Martin's cousin Joseph Kapusta and Sheila's best friend, Justine, who were married in 1951. At 17 years of age, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He began pilot training but they needed more gunners, so he transferred to aerial gunnery school. He graduated as a B-29 right waist aerial gunner. When WWII ended, he was sent to Foggia, Italy as part of the occupation troops. On a trip made to San Giovanni Rotondo, he met and was blessed by Padre Pio, now a saint. He worked as a mechanical engineer, moved to Texas and started his own business, Galis Enterprises, as an independent sales representative for 22 years, after which he retired. He found a love for music in his early years as a self-taught drummer and played in a small band in Chicago. He could still carry a beat, play his guitar, and sing his favorite songs at 94. He volunteered as a hospitality minister at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, and as an Airport Ambassador at Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport. He loved playing golf, was a member of Rolling Hills CC for many years and was still playing golf and enjoying his favorite 19th hole, Johnnie Walker, at age 90. He leaves behind Sheila, his loving wife of 67 years. He very much loved his family and is survived by his sons Martin Thomas (Laurie), James Patrick (Jamie), Brian Michael; daughter Mary Sharon (Lon) Osen; loving grandfather of Ryan (Kristina), Christopher (Celia), Ethan, Erin (Brett) Peltier, Kolby, Linnae (Galis) Itterman, Lauren, and Ashlyn; great grandfather of Jude Itterman, Charlotte, Emilia and Olivia Galis and Brooke Peltier; and brother, William Galis (Diana). He was preceded in death by his parents. The family expresses their appreciation to Arlington Memorial Hospital Hospice and Community Hospice of Texas Health Resources for providing care to Martin in his last days. Words cannot express the gratitude the family has for Martin's caregivers, Rose and Teresa; and especially Lafayette, his friend and primary caregiver. Lafayette's kindness, compassion, and dedication to helping Martin and the family navigate this peaceful transition to life eternal is so greatly appreciated and he will always have a special place in our hearts. Memorial Service is Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 11AM, at St. Maria Goretti Church in Arlington, Texas. Military Memorial Service at DFW National Cemetery planned for 2021, date is TBD. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Holidays and Heroes Organization of Fort Worth www.holidaysandheroes.org Wade Family Funeral Home (817) 274-9233