Galen Vincent Ouellette

Galen V. Ouellette, 81, of Princeton, Kansas, was called to his heavenly home Sunday, November 15, 2020. A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, November 20, 2020, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ottawa. The rosary will be held at 4:00 p.m., Thursday, November 19, 2020, at the church, followed by a visitation for family and friends from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Interment St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery, Garnett (Scipio), with military honors by the United States Air Force Honor Guard. A native of Caribou, Maine, Galen was the eldest son born to Vincent and Marie - Blanche Paradis Ouellette on January 8th, 1939. His childhood was spent working in the potato fields, fishing and hunting with his Dad, and playing with his cousins in all that snow. He is a 1957 graduate of Caribou High School. During high school, he served in the Maine National Guard; and after graduation, Galen joined the United States Air Force. Whether one wants to call it luck or fate - the family believes it was divine intervention – the delivery of a pen pal letter to a young lady in Barnesboro, Pennsylvania, would result in a 58 year-long marriage and seven children. After a very sweet courtship, Galen married Veronica Ropchock on March 3rd, 1962. Galen loved his Catholic faith. Any day that started with being able to go to Mass, was a wonderful day. Galen was a Lay Eucharistic Minister for over 45 years, a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus and a member of the Society of the Lamb. Having started in 1970, the Lord only knows just how many thousands of Rosaries, Galen and Veronica made over the years for missionaries. After the Air Force, Galen settled in Dalton, Massachusetts, upon employment with AT&T as an Electrical Technician. He would eventually retire from AT&T but not before he relocated to Arkansas City, Kansas, and then Princeton, Kansas. After his AT&T retirement, Galen worked for Wal-Mart in Ottawa, Kansas, for ten years before retiring for good. Galen enjoyed spending time with his family and his church family, playing double-deck Pinochle (something he picked up while in the service), tinkering in his garage, listening to KU, Royals and Chiefs games on the radio, and traveling. Summers were spent traveling cross country in the family vehicle visiting relatives in places as far away as Maine and California. While stationed in Turkey during his time in the Air Force, he enjoyed his travels to the Holy Land. Two of his dreams were fulfilled with a couple trips that he was able to make later in life; one to Rome, Italy, and one to Lourdes, France. Galen will be lovingly remembered by his wife Veronica and his children, Christina (Rick) Adkinson, Virginia (Gilbert) Bruna, Sharon (Gary) Shields, Edward (Darla Davis), Diane (Philip) Van Hoecke, Fr. Anthony, and Andrew (Allison Cavanaugh). Galen will also be remembered by his grandchildren, Jill, Brett, Kelly, Thomas, Peter, Michael, Angela, Christopher, Theresa, Jarret, Patrick, Sarah, Ethan, DJ, Katie, Vincent, Elli, Brylon, Magnus, Samantha, Gwendolyn, Jocelyn, Owen and his great-grandchildren, Eli, Claire, Emery, Easton, Gabriel, Alexis, Bjorn, Genevieve, Anastasia, Atticus, Vivian, Fabian, Olivia, Madelyn, Hannah, John, Kenzie, Payton, Oliver, Addison, Arlen, Ainsley, Araya, Paisley, Callen, and Kyler. He also had two great-great grandchildren, Jacob and Jonah. He is survived by a younger sister Betty of CT, and two younger brothers, Maynard of TX and Billy of ME, numerous nieces and nephews, extended family and dear friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, an older sister Dolores, a younger brother Roy, and his Godparents Albert and Margaret Martin. The family suggests memorial contributions to Sacred Heart Catholic Church c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.