Lorraine (Matushek) Gallup

Lorraine M. (Matushek) Gallup, 94, of La Crosse, passed away on Sunday, July 9, 2017, at the Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse.

She was born in Caledonia, Minn., May 16, 1923, to Andrew and Mayme (Buhr) Schleich. She attended Caledonia area schools and graduated from Loretto High School. Lorraine married Paul Matushek on December 27, 1945, in Caledonia. Paul preceded her in death on December 30, 1974. On March 13, 1976, Lorraine married Clyde Gallup at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in La Crosse. Clyde preceded her in death on November 28, 2003.

Lorraine worked for Gateway Product Corporation in La Crosse for many years until her retirement. She was a member of American Legion Auxiliary and a long-time member of Blessed Sacrament Parish where she was active in the Women’s Club and Cenacle prayer groups.

Lorraine was a wonderful homemaker and an excellent cook and baker. She was lovingly known as “Grandma Donut” to her grandchildren. Over the years, she was a loving and selfless caregiver to her father, mother and other family members who needed her help. She always enjoyed family gatherings on the holidays. Even after retirement, she and her cousins and their spouses would get together to have a meal and enjoy each other’s company. After the days of planting a huge garden had passed, she continued to surround her little house with beautiful baskets of brilliant petunias and geraniums that thrived under her constant attention. Her deepest desire was to keep herself in good standing with the Lord. There was hardly an excuse to miss Sunday Mass. Even during her final illness she asked if we could “go to church for Sunday”; not wanting to miss that 4:30 Saturday evening Mass at the parish.

She is survived by her daughter, Paulette (Peter) Drozdowicz of La Crosse; her son, Dick (Karen) Matushek of Holmen; her grandchildren, Amy (Billy) Hembd of Galesville, Paul (Maureen) Matushek of Madison, Wis., Nick Drozdowicz of Seattle, Wash., and Mike Drozdowicz of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and her great grandchild, Dakota Testa of Holmen. Lorraine is also survived by a sister-in-law, Helen Schleich of Caledonia, and numerous nieces and nephews and their families. In addition to her husbands, she was also preceded in death by her siblings, Ray Goergen, Cass Goergen, and Cletus Schleich.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff of Hearten House II and Mayo Clinic Health System for their compassionate care of our mother and us during this difficult time.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M., Monday, July 17 ^th , at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 130 Losey Blvd. So., La Crosse. Rev. Peter Raj will officiate. Burial will take place in Calvary Cemetery in Caledonia, Minn. Family and friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass on Monday at the church.