Albert "Albie" Leo Gallik

Albert (Albie) Leo Gallik was born on November 15, 1937, at St. Mary’s hospital to the proud parents of Leo and Mary Gallik.  He would tell you he was born “dead” because he wasn’t breathing at birth.  Lucky for us, that would only be a temporary situation.  He was the youngest of 8 children Andrew Leo, Irene, Andy, Cletus (Clete), Justin (Jud), Jerome, and Joan.  He grew up on a farm 7 miles east of Pine City. One of his most vivid memories was at the age of 4, when he was trying to get a knot out of his shoelace with a fork. The fork slipped, it poked him in the eye, leaving him clinically blind in the left eye. 

His childhood consisted of living and working on the farm and walking uphill both ways to and from his rural school in 10 feet of snow.  After 8^th grade, he attended St. John’s preparatory school in Collegeville, MN.  He remembered fondly the days he would ride the Zamboni and play football.

After graduation in 1955, despite being blind in one eye, he enlisted in the Army. He was in active duty from May of 1956 to February of 1959.  While stationed in Munich Germany, he specialized in Diesel mechanics. Even though he never met him, Albert was at the same base as Elvis Presley.

His first job after the Army was selling Forney welders.  From there he worked at the Pine City Laundry mat, this would serve to be an important time of his life.  In 1962, Albie went on a blind date set up by Shirley Livingston and his sister Joan.  The date would be the beginning of the rest of his life.  The mystery date was Shirley’s younger sister Betty Livingston.  The movie was called “Love in a Goldfish Bowl”. It must have been a good date because it culminated in marriage 4 years later and 4 children to follow (Mark, Jodi, John, and Mary).

In 1971, Albie took over his father’s farm.  He farmed and milked cows there until he built his own barn in 1974.  The farm became known as “Gallik Acres”, where Albie and Betty made their home with their children until 1987.  From there, he went to work at Crystal Cabinets in Princeton, MN.  Along with farming, Albie was involved in many other community activities including Milburn Telephone Company, Knights of Columbus, Pine City Township Board, and the Pine City Public School Board. He had an unwavering faith in God and dedication to the Catholic church. 

In 1990, Albie lost the love of his life when Betty died in a tragic car accident. He kept himself busy by working at the Grand Casino Hinckley, and finally at the National Chevy Association in Hinckley, MN with his grandson Andy.  He kept a very busy life going to his grandchildren’s hockey, tennis, and football games, and concerts.  He made it his number one priority to be a part of his children and grandchildren’s lives. 

On August 16, 2022, he would be once again reunited with Betty when he passed away at the Birchwood nursing home in Forest Lake, MN.  He will be forever missed but never forgotten.

Albie is survived by his four children Mark (Becky) Gallik, Jodi (Kevin) Terzich, John (Jason) Gallik, and Mary (Alan) Bergstrom; 6 grandchildren Matt (Maria) Gallik, Jonah Bergstrom, Emma Terzich, Andy Gallik, Ben Terzich, and Dusty Bergstrom.

He was preceded in death by his parents Leo and Mary Gallik: wife Betty; and 7 siblings Andrew Leo Hudak, Irene Hudak, Andy Hudak, Cletus (Clete) Hudak, Justin (Jud) Hudak, Jerome Hudak, and Joan Gallik.

Monsignor Aleksander Suchan will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial for Albert: 10:30 AM; Friday, August 26, 2022 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Pine City.  A time of visitation and reviewal is planned from 5-8 PM; Thursday (8/25) with a rosary at 7:30 PM at the Swanson Funeral Chapel and also visitation one hour prior to the Mass in the St. Anthony Commons area at the church.

Donations in Albert’s memory may be directed to:
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
555 8th Street SW
Pine City, MN 55063
or
Pine City Youth Hockey
P.O. Box 25
Pine City, MN 55063

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City, Swanson Chapel
www.FuneralAndCremationService.com