Steve L. Galligan

Steven (Steve) L. Galligan of Denmark, WI, passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on October 13, 2024, at the age of 66.

He was born to Bill and Cleida Galligan on February 17, 1958, in Aberdeen, MD. Cleida went into labor during a blizzard. The Army ambulance driver was a Southerner who was not used to winter driving, so Bill, a Milwaukee native, hopped behind the wheel and drove to the hospital. After dropping Cleida off, Bill continued through the snow to safely bring a few other women in labor to the hospital before joining his family. As Steve recalled the family lore, the hospital was short-staffed because of the weather, so the new moms and other patients found their way to the kitchen to make food for themselves and each other. This is the legacy of kindness Steve was born into, an indicator of the man he would become.

While growing up in Greece, NY, Steve learned the value of hard work via multiple newspaper routes, and he learned the value of teamwork while sailing the Great Lakes with his parents and siblings. He attended the University at Buffalo for one year before transferring to Virginia Tech, where he earned his BS in Business Management (1981) and MBA in Management Science (1983). While at Virginia Tech, Steve saw a poster advertising the need for crew members for the New Virginians. This touring musical group became his college family throughout his time at Virginia Tech. He had fond memories of driving trucks, working on sets, and helping to run lights for shows.

In February 1985, Steve met Marianne Nieminski through a mutual friend. They quickly fell in love, feeling as if they had known each other forever. They got married on November 30, 1985, in Northport, NY. In the early years of their marriage, they lived throughout the Midwest, eventually settling near Steve’s family in Sturgeon Bay before moving to Denmark to raise two long-awaited daughters, Corinne and Colleen. 

Steve worked for Schneider National from January 1988 until his medically necessitated retirement in April 2024. He was a training engineer for 15 years and was named Training Engineer of the Year in 2001. He also served as a member of the Wisconsin Road Team through the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association, giving driver safety presentations to a variety of audiences. Whether teaching someone to ride a bike in the driveway, drive a car in the high school parking lot, or haul a 53-foot trailer across the country, his genuine kindness, patience, and ability to share knowledge and ensure understanding made him a good teacher. Steve later switched to team driving, and in recent years became a Schneider Training Academy driving instructor and operations support representative. In 2019, he earned a plaque in Schneider’s Haul of Fame for reaching three million safe miles. Steve really appreciated his Schneider family throughout his 36 years with the company.

Steve loved spending time with his family and pets, whether that meant walking the dogs, doing home improvement projects, going to or listening to Broadway musicals, or watching movies and television shows together. He introduced his family to such classics as Blues Brothers, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Mel Brooks films, and Doctor Who. He passed his love of reading on to his daughters. He also enjoyed traveling; in 2022, he and Marianne drove to Blacksburg for the 50th anniversary celebration of the New Virginians. He liked to brighten people’s days; he sent hundreds of postcards to Marianne and the girls while he was out on the road, and he cherished the trips each of them was able to take in the truck with him. He even partnered with a local classroom as their “trucker buddy” class pen pal for several years. 

Steve was always willing to help others, whether friend or stranger, human or animal, or the earth in general. He could strike up a conversation with just about anyone. He was sometimes mistaken as a Fleet Farm employee in his orange Schneider shirt but would help fellow customers find what they were looking for nonetheless. He stopped to help an elderly couple change their tire on the side of the road. He stopped to help an older woman find her car in the hospital parking lot after leaving an appointment of his own. He taught those who knew him to take the time to stop, help others, and make people feel valued.

Steve is survived by his wife of almost 39 years, Marianne; their daughters, Corinne of Ann Arbor, MI, and Colleen (Mitch) Gulbransen of St. Louis Park, MN; three siblings, Reed (Lois) of The Villages, FL, Karen (Tim) Sladden of Rochester, NY, and Susan (daughter Erin) of Rochester, NY; as well as several in-laws, nieces, and nephews. He is also survived by beloved family pets and grandpets.

Steve always made sure his family knew how much he loved them and how proud of them he was. He was ready to jump in for anyone in need of a father figure, so his family would like to share some Steve Galligan wisdom that he imparted in a letter to Corinne for her 18th birthday: “Learn so you can help others with what you’ve been taught. Learn just for the joy of learning. Help others because it’s the right thing to do. Help others because of the good feeling inside you get from helping. Make a positive impact on the world. It needs all the help it can get.”

A celebration of life will be planned at a later date.

Steve and his family would like to thank many people for their compassion and care, especially the Unity Hospice team and University of Wisconsin Hematologist/Geneticist Dr. Jane Churpek. In lieu of flowers, Steve requested that you make a memorial donation to Sunshine Resources of Door County, Colby’s Crew Rescue, or another cause close to your heart that helps people and/or animals in need.