Madeline Gallagher Obituary

Madeline Kay Gallagher passed away October 4th, 2025, at the age of 84.
A caring and loving wife, mother, grandmother, friend and neighbor, she will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Madeline was born March 24, 1941, in Quinter, Kansas to George Malsam and Frances Keller Malsam, the second youngest of 10 siblings. She attended grade school through high school in Collyer, Kansas. In 1963, she married Joseph Emmett Gallagher. They briefly lived in Denver and moved to Fort Collins in 1964 when Joe accepted a transfer with IBM. Madeline became the proud mother of son Timothy, daughter Kelly, and later loving grandmother to Kelly's three children. She enjoyed camping with her family, tracing family history and babysitting grandpuppies. She and Joe travelled often to Kansas and Iowa to visit relatives and enjoyed a trip to Ireland to visit Joe's ancestral homeland. Madeline was a Poudre School District Bus Driver for 20 years and also took it upon herself to sew and repair bus seats whenever needed.
A long-time member of a local quilting group, she was a gifted needlework artist. Over the years, many were the benefactors of her talented knitting, crocheting, and quilting gifts. Madeline was also a wonderful cook, who dearly loved baking treats and amazing desserts, delighting her children, grandchildren, neighbors and friends. She was a surrogate grandmother to many neighborhood children, who will always remember her fun-loving and creative personality, frequently adding a streak of purple to her beautiful silver hair. She also had a deep love and soft heart for all animals. Madeline was preceded in death by her parents and eight brothers and sisters. She is survived by her husband Joseph, son Timothy, daughter Kelly Gallagher-Abbott, son-in-law Jim Abbott, grandchildren Karlee Abbott, Kyle Abbott and Ryan Abbott, and one sister, LaVetta Malsam Kazda of Chicago.
Per Madeline's wishes, no services are planned. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family through Goes Funeral Care - www.goesfuneralcare.com
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Madeline's name can be made to Pathways Hospice, 305 Carpenter Road, Fort Collins, CO 80525.