Ronald Gallo

Ronald Gallo, 77, of Red Wing, died Thursday, January 23, 2025 at Benedictine Living Community-Regina in Hastings, after a long battle with cancer. Ronald was born the son of Joseph and Eleanor (Orlando) Gallo on July 3, 1947 at Copiague, New York. He graduated from Farmingdale High School in New York. Most of his adult life was spent in the Midwest but he always retained the New York mentality and accent. He graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, with a bachelor’s degree. While at Dakota Wesleyan he met and married Patricia Rishling, his soulmate and wife of 55 years.

He began a career in juvenile corrections at the South Dakota Juvenile Correctional Facility. He was an instrument of change implementing the Positive Peer Culture Group Therapy treatment program in juvenile facilities in Michigan, Kansas City, MO and Illinois. He continued working with juveniles and adults at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Red Wing until his retirement. In retirement he worked at Treasure Island Casino and Red Wing Public Schools.

He enjoyed traveling, gardening and lawn care (he kept one of the nicest lawns in town) his large breed dogs, working out at the gym, model trains, car detailing and everything golf. In his younger years, he pheasant hunted in South Dakota and camped and went trout fishing in the Black Hills. His golf passion began in his youth as a caddy at Bethpage State Golf Course and lasted until this past fall. He played many of the famous courses of America and found the local courses enjoyable as well as the comradery with fellow golfers. Recently, he enjoyed classic movies (Westerns), public television, Jeopardy, The Wheel of Fortune, the Golf Channel, reading Golf magazine and playing games on his phone.

Ronald is survived by his wife, Patricia; daughter, Michelle Moser; son, Joseph Gallo (Kristen); grandchildren, Anthony, Olivia and Gabriel Gallo; brothers, William (Michele) Gallo and Wayne (Scott) Gallo; nephew, Stephen Gallo; brothers-in-law, William (Judy) Rishling and Michael (Linda) Rishling. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Richard Gallo, son-in-law, Peter Moser; grandparents, aunts, uncles and mother and father-in-law.

Funeral mass will be 11 a.m. Friday, February 7, 2025 at Church of St. Joseph with Father Brandon Theisen presiding. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery at a later date. Memorials are preferred to Mayo Foundation for Education and Research or to your local animal shelter.  Arrangements handled by Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel.