Galen R. Tjossem

Galen R. Tjossem

Primghar, Iowa

     Galen R. Tjossem, age 91, of rural Primghar, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Community Memorial Health Care Center in Hartley, Iowa.  His graveside service will be held at 11:30 A.M. on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at Friends Cemetery in rural Paullina.

The family requests everyone bring their own lawn chair.

Arrangements are under the care of the Eldridge Family Funeral Home of Primghar.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

GALEN ROBERT TJOSSEM

BORN 

December 29, 1932 ~ Primghar, Iowa

PASSED AWAY

July 13, 2024 ~ Hartley, Iowa

AGE

91 Years 6 Months 14 Days

GRAVESIDE SERVICE

11:30 A.M. Saturday, July 20, 2024

Friends Cemetery; rural Paullina, Iowa

FINAL RESTING PLACE

Friends Cemetery ~ Rural Paullina, Iowa

After the graveside service, relatives and friends are invited to for fellowship in the 

Mapleside Community Building

Arrangements are under the care of the

Eldridge Family Funeral Home; Primghar, Iowa.

Galen Robert Tjossem

December 29, 1932 – July 13, 2024

Galen Tjossem, age 91, of Primghar Iowa, passed away on July 13, 2024 at Hartley Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley, Iowa.

Galen was born to Welton and Jessie (Crosbie) Tjossem on December 29, 1932 at a farm northwest of Primghar. He grew up on a farm near Sutherland and graduated from Sutherland Consolidated School in 1951. He served his alternative service at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa from 1954-1956 where he met his future wife, Mary Ellen Bottorff, who was in nursing school at Iowa Methodist at the time. Galen and Mary Ellen were married February 23, 1958 in Harcourt Iowa. Galen farmed his whole life first with his father and brother and then with his son, Mark, until his retirement. 

He was very involved in the Paullina Friends Meeting and would volunteer often to lend a helping hand to anyone who would ask. He spent many years serving on the O’Brien County FSA board. He was an expert woodworker and fabricator and built the family home almost entirely by himself. More importantly, he was a dedicated and supportive husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.

He is survived by his sons, Mark of Primghar, Bruce (Barbara) of Richfield, Minnesota and Steven (Christine) of Minneapolis, Minnesota; his 3 grandchildren, Kari (Trevor Davis) of Valdosta, Georgia, Kyle (Ashle) of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and Hanna (fiancé Matt Borash) of Richfield, Minnesota; his great-grandsons Jennings Tjossem and Theodore Davis and step-great-granddaughter Lydia Davis. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law Louise Opheim of Stuart, Iowa and Eunice Bottorff of Ann Arbor, Michigan, brother-in-law Daniel (Susan) Bottorff of Westfield, New Jersey and many nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, brother, and other relatives.