Gordon Keith Galewick

Gordon Galewick 81, died from natural causes on October 3rd, 2016, at his home in Whittier, California, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. His wife, Marlene Galewick, preceded him in death 6 weeks earlier. We believe the quick descent of his health was due to a broken heart, for he missed her dearly.



Gordon is survived by his 5 children; Jennifer Dunn, Karen Wilkinson (Kirk), Julene Edmunds (Peter), Darryl Galewick (Monica), and Sandy Hetrick (Rick). He is also survived by his brother Stan Galewick and Sister Polly Harribedian (Marty). He was blessed with 26 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild on the way. He was also preceded in death by his Father and Mother, Howard and Mary Galewick, and his brother Robert Galewick.



Gordon was born on April 2nd, 1935 in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in East Los Angeles and has many dear friends from his youth that he stayed in contact with. As a 15-year-old boy his life changed drastically when he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He would tell all that this one decision was the best thing he ever did, besides marrying Marlene. He served a mission for the Church in New Zealand and, while on that mission, received an answer to prayer that he was to marry our mother, Marlene. He came home and made good on that inspiration. They were married in the Los Angeles LDS Temple soon after and enjoyed almost 59 years of marriage.



Our Father and Mother created a beautiful family life for us kids. We enjoyed family home evenings, dinners around the table, camping trips, and attending church together. When we were little one of our favorite things was wrestling with Dad. We climbed all over himall of us against himand we never won. He was an affectionate man and we always knew he loved us. He was always there for us during our most difficult times. Everyone loved to come over to the Galewick House, as dad and mom made everyone feel loved and like they were part of the family. It was a fun and happy place to be. Many others call our parents mom and dad because they extended their love and service to all they came in contact with. Often I would see my father sitting on the couch counseling a troubled youth and providing love and encouragement to them. Our home was a safe place for many.



Gordon was a Los Angeles Police Sergeant and served on the force for 20 years. It was a great source of pride for him to have served as a protector of the public. He told stories his whole life about the many experiences he had. He was a brave, strong, policeman and highly respected for his knowledge and expertise. While on the force, each summer for about 5 years, he served as Camp Director for the LAPD Camp for the under-privileged youth of Los Angeles, at Camp Radford in the San Bernardino Mountains. We often visited dad at this camp and we felt like rock stars because all the kids knew we were Sergeant Galewicks kids!



After he retired he started a traffic school business that he and mom ran for 35 years. Often Gordon would work several jobs at the same time to support his family. He taught us how to work hard and we are grateful for that.



As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Gordon served in many capacities. He was a faithful Home Teacher, a Stake and Ward Young Mens President, a Scout Leader, Seminary Teacher, a ward Sunday School President, a High Councilor, and a Temple Worker. Many of the young men he served and taught have attributed to him their strength in the gospel and their understanding of what a Man of God is. If one of them werent at church, he would take the whole group to the missing boys house and have a Sunday School lesson in their room! These young men always knew of Gordons love for them.



Gordon also served alongside Marlene in the Homeless Shelter in Whittier for 32 years. As he would pass his homeless friends on the street he would pull over and give them lunch money or whatever food he had in his car. He even took a few of them into his home. His heart was as big as the moon!



His testimony of the Church is one of his greatest legacies. It was as if he never left his mission because he continued sharing the gospel with all those he came in contact with. Every person he ever knew will tell you that he shared his testimony with them. The nurses in the hospital would often tell us that our father gave them a Book of Mormon and shared the story of his temple marriage to mom. All his neighbors knew him because he had written letters to all of them about the church. All of his children and grandchildren have stacks of letters he wrote to them about the gospel. He also often wrote his testimony to the Whittier Daily News in defense of the church and often they published his articles in the Opinion section of the paper. He was a Fearless Christian Soldier! (His favorite Hymn was Onward, Christian Soldier) He was never afraid to share his love for God and Jesus Christ with the world.



He will be known as a good, faithful, strong man who loved all and made it his job to care for everyone he could. I am sure that when he stood before the Lord on the day of his passing the Lord was able to say to him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant. To hear these words was his greatest desire.



His funeral will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 15, 2016, the Whittier LDS Stake Center, 15265 Mulberry Drive Whittier, California 90604. A viewing will be held from 10:00-10:45 in the Relief Society Room. After the funeral there will be a graveside service at Deseret Lawn in Rose Hills Memorial Park.



Friends may, if they wish, donate in lieu of flowers the Homeless Shelter that Mom and Dad worked at for 32 years. Please mail checks to: Whittier Area Interfaith Council 7056 S. Washington Ave., Whittier, CA 90602. (*Please add Galewick Memorial to the memo on the check.)