Michael Warren Gallagher

Michael Warren Gallagher, age 59, of Benezett, PA, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 after a courageous twelve-year battle with prostate cancer.  A son of the late Warren Dill Gallagher and the late Beverly Elaine (Larkin) Gallagher-Rishel, he was born on April 30, 1963 in DuBois, PA. His step-father, Ron Rishel, survives in Benezett.  On September 29, 1990 he married Tanya Lee Winkler, who also survives in Benezett.

Along with his step-father and his wife, Michael is survived by: four children, Michelle (Christopher Dobbs) Gallagher of DuBois, Chance Gallagher of Benezett, Dana (Ty Anzinger) Gallagher of Weedville and Dillon Gallagher of Saratoga Springs, NY; a granddaughter, Alma Joy; a brother, Kevin Gallagher of Benezett; five sisters, Debbie (Jim) Gallagher Smith of DuBois, Brenda Maholtz of Benezett, Michele (Randy) Ashby of Amity, PA, Connie (Fred) Silver of Saltsburg, PA and Linda Gallagher of Benezett; step-siblings, Jane, Robin and Dale; his pets, Benny, Trip, Raja, Ebby and Ivy; and his grand-doggers, Ruca, Bowie and Snoop.

Besides his parents, Michael was predeceased by: a brother-in-law, Curtis “Cooter” Maholtz and a step-sister, Donna.

After Michael graduated from St. Marys Area High School in 1981, he served in the US Navy from 1981 – ’85 as GMG2 on the USS Forrestal. He worked for several years with his step-father at Rishel Lumber and later graduated from the PA College of Technology with an Associate Degree in Tool Making Technology in 1990.  He then worked as a machinist at Sylvania from 1990 until its closure in 2019, and during that time he continued to work independently in logging.  Most recently he was working at SGL as a CNC Operator until taking leave for medical reasons.

Living all his life in Benezett, Michael was a member of the Benezett United Methodist Church and the Weedville American Legion.  He played Valley Softball for many years and coached Valley Little League.  He also enjoyed hunting, gardening, birdwatching, dirt bike riding and playing golf. More than anything, he loved his family. As hard as he worked, he also knew how to have fun. He was not only the master vacation-planner, but also the life of every gathering, always making people laugh with his stories.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 11, 2022 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. and from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. and also on Monday, from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. at the Ralph M. Geer Funeral Home of Penfield, PA.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 12, 2022 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church of Force, with Father Mark Mastrian.

Military honors will be accorded by the Weedville American Legion Post 978 Honor Guard. 

Interment will take place in the St. Joseph Church Cemetery of Force.

The family suggests memorials to the Bennetts Valley Ambulance (PO Box 43, Penfield, PA  15849), the Hahne Cancer Center or the “Three Breastketeers” (C/O Darlene Eckert, 102 Elk Rd., St. Marys, PA  15857).