Gertrude Gallo, 93, of St. Paul, passed away at 5:10 p.m., Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul.
She was born March 7, 1921 in St. Paul, Kansas to John and Nellie (Crager) Kennedy. As a young girl, she attended Odell Grade School and in 1939 graduated from St. Francis High School. She then attended Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Parsons where she graduated in 1943.
Following graduation from nursing school, she worked for a short time at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. She then joined the United States Army Nurse Corps where she served in the 28th Field Hospital in England and the 317th Station Hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany.
From 1950 to 1954, she worked at the Kansas Ordnance Plant in Parsons where she was in charge of a first aid station. From 1954 through 1961, she worked at the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center where she became Director of Nursing Education. While working there, she earned her Bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis with a specialty in Psychiatric Nursing. In 1962, she transferred to Osawatomie State Hospital where she served as Director of Nursing Education in order to teach student nurses. At that time, there were five schools of nursing affiliated there.
In 1968, she returned to southeast Kansas to assist with the implementation of the Associate Degree Nursing Program at Labette Community College in Parsons. While teaching at the college, she earned a Master's degree in 1971 from Pittsburg State University. In 1982, she retired from LCC after having served 14 years in the nursing program.
She was selected as Outstanding Educator of America in 1974-75 in recognition of contributions to advancement of higher education and service to the community.
From 1973 to 1977, she served as mayor of St. Paul and again from 1987 to April of 2000. In May of 1992, she received a citizenship award for her tireless efforts for rebuilding and developing the City of St. Paul. On Veterans Day of 2001, she was recognized for her dedication and devoted service to her country and community.
She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul, the Daughters of Isabella and Altar Society, Norris-Carter American Legion Post No. 116 in St. Paul, and a life member of Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Parsons.
She married Joseph Gallo in Wiesbaden, Germany. They later divorced.
Survivors include:
One Son – Gary Gallo and his wife, Gail Parsons, KS
One Granddaughter
One Great-Grandson
One Great-Granddaughter
One Brother – Howard Kennedy and his wife, Viola St. Paul, KS
Two Sisters – Eileen Hight Littleton, CO
Agnes Riggin Northglenn, CO
Numerous Nieces and Nephews
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, John Thomas Kennedy and Francis Eugene Kennedy; and an infant grandson.
The funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 20, 2015 at St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery with military honors given by Norris-Carter American Legion Post No. 116 and Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, February 19, 2015 at the church. The family will receive friends at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, in Parish Hall immediately following the rosary.
Memorials are suggested to the LCC Foundation for scholarships in the nursing program. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gertrude Gallo, please visit our flower store.
She was born March 7, 1921 in St. Paul, Kansas to John and Nellie (Crager) Kennedy. As a young girl, she attended Odell Grade School and in 1939 graduated from St. Francis High School. She then attended Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Parsons where she graduated in 1943.
Following graduation from nursing school, she worked for a short time at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. She then joined the United States Army Nurse Corps where she served in the 28th Field Hospital in England and the 317th Station Hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany.
From 1950 to 1954, she worked at the Kansas Ordnance Plant in Parsons where she was in charge of a first aid station. From 1954 through 1961, she worked at the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center where she became Director of Nursing Education. While working there, she earned her Bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis with a specialty in Psychiatric Nursing. In 1962, she transferred to Osawatomie State Hospital where she served as Director of Nursing Education in order to teach student nurses. At that time, there were five schools of nursing affiliated there.
In 1968, she returned to southeast Kansas to assist with the implementation of the Associate Degree Nursing Program at Labette Community College in Parsons. While teaching at the college, she earned a Master's degree in 1971 from Pittsburg State University. In 1982, she retired from LCC after having served 14 years in the nursing program.
She was selected as Outstanding Educator of America in 1974-75 in recognition of contributions to advancement of higher education and service to the community.
From 1973 to 1977, she served as mayor of St. Paul and again from 1987 to April of 2000. In May of 1992, she received a citizenship award for her tireless efforts for rebuilding and developing the City of St. Paul. On Veterans Day of 2001, she was recognized for her dedication and devoted service to her country and community.
She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul, the Daughters of Isabella and Altar Society, Norris-Carter American Legion Post No. 116 in St. Paul, and a life member of Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Parsons.
She married Joseph Gallo in Wiesbaden, Germany. They later divorced.
Survivors include:
One Son – Gary Gallo and his wife, Gail Parsons, KS
One Granddaughter
One Great-Grandson
One Great-Granddaughter
One Brother – Howard Kennedy and his wife, Viola St. Paul, KS
Two Sisters – Eileen Hight Littleton, CO
Agnes Riggin Northglenn, CO
Numerous Nieces and Nephews
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, John Thomas Kennedy and Francis Eugene Kennedy; and an infant grandson.
The funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 20, 2015 at St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery with military honors given by Norris-Carter American Legion Post No. 116 and Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, February 19, 2015 at the church. The family will receive friends at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, in Parish Hall immediately following the rosary.
Memorials are suggested to the LCC Foundation for scholarships in the nursing program. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gertrude Gallo, please visit our flower store.
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