Obituary of Galen Clair Wilson

Galen Clair Wilson, 80, died peacefully on June 28, 2018. He was born in Clarkfield, MN, attended a country school in Hazel Run, MN, and graduated from Clarkfield High School. He went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota, and the U of M Law School. He was drafted into the Army in 1963, where he served as an enlisted lawyer, including time in Augsburg, Germany and Monterey, CA. Galen practiced law in Duluth, as an assistant city attorney and in private practice at Harper, Eaton, and Gustafson. Galen then served as a Minnesota state district court judge in the sixth judicial district for 24 years. Galen loved Duluth (even the weather) and was an avid outdoorsman. He was a long-time member of Canyon Deer Trails, Inc. and he enjoyed duck hunting in Canada. Galen coached little league baseball, golfed, and traveled the world in retirement, including multiple trips to New Zealand and Australia. Galen was a member of Kiwanis, and enjoyed coffee with the emeritus members on Wednesdays. He also enjoyed volunteering, especially reading to headstart students and cooking chili at Damiano Center in Duluth. He is preceded in death by parents Earl and Letha Wilson, and sister Ethel. He is survived by his wife Margaret, his sons and their families: Chris and Frances Wilson, Walter and Gabriel (Sydney, Australia); John and Kym Wilson, Ava, Jack, Tim, Maria (Lino Lakes, MN); and Will Wilson and Jennifer McNertney (St Paul, MN); and by extended family in Minnesota, Colorado, and elsewhere. Galen was kind, good, and lived his life with a deep sense of fairness. At his request, there will not be a funeral, but family is planning a celebration of life, to be scheduled in August. In lieu of memorials, the family requests gifts to Damiano Center in Duluth, at https://www.damianocenter.org/donate.