Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, Joseph E. Gallagher, Jr. entered into peaceful rest on Wednesday, December 24, 2025.
Cherished husband and best friend of Kathleen (nee Grass); loving father of Joseph (Janet), Sean (Stephanie) Gallagher, James (Stefanie) Castro, and Mario Gallagher; cherished Pawpaw of Delanie, Kendall, Clayton, Taylor, and Colten Gallagher; Jacob (Kayla), Hailey and Ava Castro; Abigaille Gallagher, Logan (Angelina) Vance and Airrianna Gallagher. Dear son of the late Joseph E. and Mary Eileen Gallagher. Beloved brother of Daniel and James (Lisa) Gallagher, Marianne Meyer, Teresa Essen, and the late Kathleen Larson and Christine Long. Dearest brother-in-law of Steve (Debbie) Grass and Martha (Tim) Vosse. Our loving uncle, great-uncle and friend.
Joe was an avid hunter, fisherman, lover of the outdoors and a superb mentor. He was a member of the SIUE 1975 soccer championship team. One of his greatest accomplishments was being a loving grandfather of 11 wonderful grandkids.
Services: Visitation at Kutis Affton (10151 Gravois Rd. 62123) on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 from 3-8 PM. Funeral mass at St. Raphael the Archangel Church (6047 Bishops Pl. 63109) on Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 10 AM. Interment Resurrection Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Siteman Cancer Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research. (www.siteman.wustl.edu/give/) or Backstoppers (www.backstoppers.org/donate/).
Our deepest appreciation for all our family, friends, church families and those at Three Oaks Hospice for their loving care and support. Thank you to Fr. Nicholas Smith and St. Raphael the Archangel Church for a beautiful service.
Kathy and family im so sorry Joe was a great man my thoughts and prayers are with you and the family
Kathy and family so sorry for your lose. Joe was an amazing man. Always had a smile on his face and plenty of jokes. It was great working with for the past 20 years in air monitoring.
Those of us who knew Joe from his work in St. Louis at our Missouri Department of Natural Resources Blair Street Air Monitoring Site were so saddened to hear this. The photo posted of Joe is perfect, that’s how we saw him every time we worked with him, always smiling, and he often had a good zinger of a smart aleck remark that made you smile or laugh. Joe was our cooperator who handled filters for a couple of our instruments, and I worked with him often on these since 2007. He loved his family, and he liked telling me about his granddaughter and the fun they would have in the outdoors. I counted Joe as a friend, and I hope he thought of me the same way. He was a good man with a good head and good heart. I’ve missed him working at Blair Street. My condolences, thoughts, and prayers for his wife and family.
Until we meet again in Christ, Joe.
To the Gallagher family – I am so sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. We went to grade school together and I saw him at our 50 year reunion a while back. Everyone liked Joe for the great guy he was! My sincere sympathy.
God Bless him and his wonderful family
I went to Nativity Grade School with Joe. He loved soccer and played with my brother. Sorry to hear about his passing. My thoughts and prayers are with hs family. God bless.
To the Gallagher Family – Sending caring thoughts your way as you move through these difficult days. So sorry for your loss. I was a classmate of Joes at Nativity.
Kathy,
We are so sorry for your loss. I never knew him personally, but I know he was a good husband, father and grandfather from your kind words about him in our many conversations thru the years at Sara Lee.
Our prayers are with you and your family.
Joe was always a sweet and loving man. So sorry to the family as this is a huge loss.
Great guy, great Friend. God bless you all. -jtk
Joe was a great example of a teenager and lived a life well lived . Peace to his cherished family at this time to reflect and be inspired by his kindness compassion and empathy ….