Remembering Ted Owen Gallagher
To honor a beloved member of the SRF community, the Gallagher family has provided us with the following obituary to celebrate Ted’s life.
Ted Owen Gallagher—A Saint Among Us
Ted Owen Gallagher was born Dec 7, 1962 in Saint Paul, Minnesota to James F. and Elizabeth S. Gallagher, and was taken home by the Great Almighty on Dec 5, 2024, two days short of his 62nd birthday. Ted was a beloved brother, son, uncle, cousin, and friend to all who knew him. He is survived by his sister, Nancy Terese Gallagher, his brothers, Daniel, Paul, Mark and Edward. Ted lived for most of his years in Owatonna, Minnesota where he worked several jobs, including cleaning school buses for the county and working in a sheltered workshop. Ted was given a catholic funeral at Saint Peter’s Church in Mendota, Minnesota and laid to rest in Resurrection Cemetery on December 10, 2024..
Ted had many disabilities and hardships to endure during his life, but he never, ever complained. He had Synder Robison Syndrome, a genetic disease that affected his ability to learn, his fine motor control, the strength of his bones, and his ability to speak. At 14 months old Ted was given up to the State of Minnesota as a ward of the state. Later, when he was 13 years old, he had his large intestine removed to save his life. He dealt with the difficulties of a colostomy bag for 50 years. He grew up in foster homes, but always maintained a connection with his birth family. We knew him all his life. Ted suffered greatly throughout his 62 years, yet he never complained. He never made a negative comment.
Despite his other disabililties, Ted had a personality that lit up a room. Ted was all about loving and being loved. Very outgoing, he engaged with all people earnestly, sincerely, and completely. When you were talking to Ted, he was totally focused on you. He cared about people and loved to talk, and to horse around with us. Ted was always positive. His favorite reply was “Yeah, right!” And with his brothers, he was always going to “throw you in the lake!” A fine Minnesota tradition!
Ted was always happy. He loved people. He would tease about anything to make everyone laugh. We will miss his crazy, “I’m going to put you on the roof!” and his “Yeah, right!” when we teased him back. While his bag care was a cross that none of us could bear, Ted never, ever complained or felt sorry for himself. We admired and learned from Ted’s simple, good-natured faith. Ted protrayed the selfless, unselfish character of a saint. Ted, please pray for us! Help us learn patience!
Ted was very sociable and definitely a lady's man. He loved playing cards, as long as he won! His brother Mark, an experienced card cheat, often accommodated Ted’s incredible winning streak! Although Ted loved people, he liked winning even more. Nothing pleased him more that beating us at Uno or SkipO. Ted had a winsome smile and deep dimples. He had a great disposition, was likeable, loving and lovable. All the people that cared for Ted wanted to keep him. The women who cared for him as a baby, usually kept the babies until they were two, but they kept Ted until he was five years old. Many of the staff from his group in Owatonna, where he lived over twenty-five years, became very attached to Ted and his magnanimous personality. He was well liked at the sheltered workshop where he was employed. We are very grateful to the loving staff at Ted’s group home and the sheltered workshop for their patience and understanding.
Since our parents passed away in 2009, Ted’s brother Mark, has served faithfully as Ted's caretaker, guardian, advisor, and best friend. Mark traveled frequently to Minnesota for holidays and to tend to the myriads of tasks necessary for Ted's care due to Ted's complicated medical needs. Mark gave Ted his undivided attention, love and care that was exemplary. We are most grateful to Mark for his devotion to Ted. We are also grateful to Edward for hosting Ted on countless overnight visits at his condominium in Eagan. Fortunately, for a person who loves people, Ted was seldom alone. He lived in a group home in Owatonna, Minnesota. And Ted spent numerous holidays with his birth family. Nothing made him happier, and it was always a joy to have Ted at home. Last Thanksgiving, just last weekend, Ted enjoyed being with Mark, Nancy, Edward and, his nephew, Stephen Leis at Edward's condominium in Eagan.
Having said all that, it is hard for us to let go of Ted. We loved him, and he loved us. We ask ourselves, why did the Lord give Ted such a hard road? How could the Lord allow such hardship to be inflicted on one of His own?
We trust in the Lord that there was meaning to Ted’s life. Jesus tells us, that the path to heaven requires us to “be as little children.” To trust completely in God’s wisdom. In the worldly view, we sometimes believe that a life’s worth is measured as humankind measures. That the greater a person’s achievements in life, the more meaning their life has. But this is not what the gospel tells us. Jesus tells us that we must be as little children and put our trust totally in God. Ted was as a little child his whole life, under great hardship. I believe that Ted’s crown in heaven will be greater than any of us here. While we have been blessed greatly by God, Ted travelled the more difficult road and without complaint or any self-pity. Ted embodies the little child. His is the greater glory for eternity.
Ted was chosen by God to be a victim soul. A victim soul is a person who is chosen by God to suffer more than other people in order to atone for the sins of humanity and to save souls from hell. A victim soul accepts their suffering in union with Christ and in love for God. They have a specific mission on earth that requires great sacrifice. Their suffering is a continuation of Christ's suffering on earth. Ted was a victim soul in the sense that he accepted his lot in life without complaint or resentment and continued loving everyone around him in the purest sense of Christ’s love for us. Ted accepted the pain and suffering of this life with patience and love for others.
Ted’s innocence and lifelong sufferings cannot have been in vain. They give great hope and assurance that he is home with the Lord. Ted continues as an inspiration to us and gives us all hope. Ted is a brother to us all. Ted lived his life as a saint among us. Alleluia, Alleluia! All praise be to Almighty God!