Ronald Galka Obituary

Ronald (Ron) L. Galka, 93, of Elyria, Ohio, passed away Sunday, June 29, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. He was born November 10, 1931, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to the late Leon and Lorene Galka, and beloved by his brothers, children, and grandchildren. 

Ron is survived by his wife, Doreen (née Kolenda) of 67 years; his children, Michael Galka, Susan (Tim) Peterson, and David Galka; and his brother, Leo Galka. He will be forever cherished and remembered by his four grandchildren, Taylor Peterson, Morgan Peterson, Alex Galka, and Eva Galka. 

Ron was preceded in death by two of his brothers, Gordon and Stuart Galka. 

Growing up in Grand Rapids, Ron attended St. James Elementary school, and went on to Central Catholic High School, where as a member of the track team, he competed in the pole vault. After graduation, with an interest in architecture, he enrolled at Grand Rapids Junior College. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951, during his four years in the Air Force he served as a radar operator. After the Air Force, he joined the Michigan Bell Telephone Company, where he met Doreen. Ron and Doreen married on September 28, 1957, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Grand Rapids. In 1958, Ron was hired by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an air traffic controller, requiring them to relocate to Detroit. In 1964 the Galka family moved to Elyria, Ohio, as Ron was transferred to the Air Route Traffic Control Center in Oberlin. Ron continued to work for the FAA until his retirement in 1988. When not spending time with his family, Ron had a passion for playing and watching golf. Over the years he also had several hobbies including photography, reading, crossword puzzles, gardening, volunteering at church, and visiting his adult children and grandchildren. 

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on August 4, 2025 at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Elyria. Burial will occur on August 5, 2025 at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Avon, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at alzfdn.org.

Reichlin Roberts Bollinger Funeral Home is honored to have been able to assist the family.