OBITUARY FROM THE NW INDIANA TIMES, OCTOBER 26, 1995:
Nicholas J. Galler, 15, of Hobart, passed away Tuesday, October 24, 1995. He was a 10th grader at Hobart High School; worked at Corey Brothers Bakery and Mi Casita Mexican Restaurant.
He is survivced by his father, Michael Galler of Hobart; mother, Kimberly Galler of Sarasota, Florida; one brother, Michael B. Galler of Hobart; grandmother Helen J. Galler of Hobart; grandparents Mildred J. (James) Campbell-O'Malley; many aunts, uncles and cousins. Preceded in death by grandfathers John Galler and Oscar Tal Campbell.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Octboer 27, 1995 at the Rees Funeral Home, 600 W. Old Ridge Road, Hobart, with Rev. David Nowak officiating. Creamation at Calvary Crematory. Visitation Thursday from 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. at the Rees Funeral Home, Hobart Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to the Nicholas J. Galler Fund in lieu of flowers. 942-2109.
This information was obtained from: www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/obituaries/article_fcebe336-5547-58c8-bd3f-9fc4b59654f0.html. The picture was obtained from the 1998 HHS Memories yearbook (when Nick was a sophomore), made available by the Lake County Public Library, at: https://archive.org/stream/HOHS1996Images/.
This article also appeared in the NW Indiana Times on October 26, 1995:
Teen's car accident death grips hobart
CLISTON BROWN
Teen's car accident death grips hobart
CLISTON BROWN
HOBART - The death of 15-year-old Nicholas J. Galler touched people throughout this community Wednesday.
Family, friends, co-workers and educators grieved for the Hobart High School sophomore and remembered him as being a friendly person with a strong work ethic.
Galler died Tuesday when the car in which he was riding went off a rural road and overturned in west central Porter County. Galler was pronounced dead due to massive head injuries at 7:25 p.m. at St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart.
News of his death reverberated through the city, from City Hall to local family businesses. Hobart Mayor Robert Malizzo said he spent part of Wednesday morning consoling Nicholas' father, Mike Galler, who works for the city's Department of Public Works. "Anytime a person loses a child, it's a really devastating tragedy," Malizzo said. "Our condolences and hearts go out to (the family)."
He also is survived by his mother, Kimberly Galler of Sarasota, Fla., and brother, Michael B. Galler of Hobart.
Several workers at Corey Bros. Bakery in Hobart paused Wednesday to remember Galler, who had been employed there part-time since August. "He was a good kid, good friend, a good person to work with," said Jeannette Jasnick, 19. "He was friendly, got along with everybody." "He was very sweet and kind, a hard worker," said April Schupe, 20. "He had a lot of friends." Bert Reed, who owns Corey Bros., said Galler was well-liked and a good worker. "He was a nice young man, very conscientious," Reed said. "He was trying to
do something in his young life. He was looking forward to coming to work full-time after he turned 16."
Galler also held a part-time job as a cook's helper at Mi Casita Restaurant in Hobart. Friends at Mi Casita also mourned his passing. "Everybody's feeling something today," said Olympia Arauz, 32, a hostess at
the Mexican restaurant. "My mom cried, everybody cried. He was a nice guy, quiet. My mom taught him how to cook." "He was a good worker, always punctual, a nice kid," said Mi Casita co-owner, Florene Gonzalez. "He will be missed."
Reaction at the high school also was sorrowful. Guidance counselor Keith Hipskind said he talked with several grieving students Wednesday. Principal Sherry Williams also said the sadness at the school was very noticeable, even among students and teachers who didn't know Galler well. "We like to consider that our school is like a family," Williams said. "When something devastating like this happens, we all feel it."
Bobbie Hanley, one of Galler's teachers, said she'll remember Galler as a kind and pleasant person.
"He was a young man who always had a smile on his face, very polite," Hanley said.
Porter County Sheriff Larry Dembinski said Tuesday his department was still investigating the cause of the crash, in which the car struck a ditch and wire fence before flipping over. Dembinski said alcohol apparently was not involved in the accident, in which driver Nicholas Kegebein, 17, and Quinton Stout, 17, suffered minor injuries. An investigation is ongoing.
Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Rees Funeral Home. The funeral will take place at 10:30 a.m. Friday.
Times Staff Writer Adele Mackanos contributed to this report.