Karen Dianne Galle

KAREN DIANNE BLEZINGER GALLE was born July 29, 1951, in Bellville, Texas to Herman and Selma (Krause) Blezinger. She was baptized on September 16, 1951, at St. John Lutheran Church in New Ulm. She grew up in the New Bremen Community and attended grades 1-9 at West End Elementary in Industry. During her younger years she enjoyed helping her Dad and Uncle Louis on the farm by driving tractors for them during hay season. She also enjoyed going coon hunting with her coon dog "Rusty." She was an active member of the St. John's Luther League and was confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in New Ulm on April 3, 1966. She was the Valedictorian of Bellville High School Class of 1969, and went on to attended Sam Houston State University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching on May 13, 1972. Karen was united in marriage with Burnie Galle on July 8, 1972, at St. John Lutheran Church in New Ulm. They made their home in New Ulm and have been members of St. John Lutheran in New Ulm. She was a loving and devoted mother to her two daughters, Lisa and Kara. She was active in the lives of her daughters by being a PTO/PTA leader, 4-H leader, dairy judging coach, Little League coach and softball mom. One of the greatest joys in her life was being a grandmother to Jake and Jack. She loved attending Jack's school activities and was known to Jack and Jake as "Onnie." She taught grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 at West End Elementary over her 31 year career. Her countless hours of dedication to her students yielded several prestigious awards such as the Golden Bell Award in 1996, Superintendents Award in 1999, Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2000 and Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year in 2009, receiving grant money for her classroom. She retired in June of 2010, and had been taking care of Jake every day and driving Jack to school on Wednesday mornings. Just in the last week she had taught Jake how to roll a ball and throw it back to her and helped Jack to learn his sight words, especially learning the difference between orange, yellow and purple. She was a volunteer for many community organizations including the Industry and New Ulm Volunteer Fire Departments and was a member of the St. John Lutheran Women of the Church. She was also a faithful servant of the Lord. She played the organ for church services and for the choir. She was also a Sunday School teacher and Sunday School Superintendent and served on numerous church committees over the years. Karen loved being outdoors, whether it was in her garden or flowerbeds, checking cows, hunting and cutting cedars at her beloved Hill Country ranch. She loved reading and spending time with her family. She passed away suddenly Thursday, December 2, 2010, in Bellville. She is survived by her HUSBAND: Burnie Galle; DAUGHTERS: Lisa Wise and her husband, Tommy, and Kara Walls and her husband, Matt; GRANDSONS: Jack and Jake Wise, all of New Ulm; BROTHER: Kermit Blezinger and his wife, Juanita, of Needville; SISTER: Beatrice Rinn of Industry; BROTHER-IN-LAW: David Galle and his wife, Elaine, of Industry; SISTER-IN-LAW: Mary Ann Eckermann and her husband, Larry, of Burton; MOTHER-IN-LAW: Aldean Galle of New Ulm; and many other dear friends and relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents, father-in-law: Hilbert Galle, brother-in-law: Jay Dee Rinn, and her uncle: Louis Blezinger.