Galen W. Wooge

CRYSTAL LAKE - Galen Wooge, age 83 of Crystal Lake, died Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City. Memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, May 28, 2010 at the United Methodist Church in Forest City with Pastor Jerald Swanberg officiating.

Inurnment will be held at 2:30 PM on Friday, May 28th at the Oakland Cemetery in Forest City.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 PM on Thursday, May 27th at the United Methodist Church in Crystal Lake, Iowa.

Galen William Wooge was born in Forest City, Iowa, on November 28, 1926, the firstborn of six children to William and Grace (Hefte) Wooge. He attended Linden #5 Country School and graduated from Forest City High School in 1945, honored as a member of the all-state football team. Galen farmed with his father in Linden Township and married Helen Steffensen on August 1, 1950; they were blessed with five children. They farmed northwest of Forest City from 1957-1967 when they purchased and moved to the Wooge home farm. Galen maintained a registered Holstein dairy herd, Hereford beef cattle, and Hampshire hogs, promoting his interests with membership and leadership positions on various agricultural boards.

Galen served his community as mayor of Crystal Lake from 1998-2002. He was active in the Forest City and Crystal Lake United Methodist churches by teaching Sunday school, serving on various church boards, and participating in mission trips with NOMADS for over six years. Fishing in Canada was one of Galen’s joys, and he like to travel, having visited all 50 states, Australia, Jamaica and Israel.

Galen is survived by Helen, his wife of 59 years, his children: Gaylord and wife Jody of Forest City; Harriet and husband Doug Adams of Otho, IA; Lynn and wife Cindy of Forest City; Penny and husband Harley Beenken of Forest City; and Scott and wife Cynthia of St. Louis, MO; 11 grandchildren: Jason Adams, Colleen (Tim) Koester, Lt. Cdr. Chaldon (Linda) Wooge, Miranda (Mark) Stover, Courtney Wooge, Lukas (Stephanie) Wooge, Laurie Wooge and fiancé Carlos Oropeza; Tasha (Adam) Beenken-Grimm, Rebecca Wooge and fiancé Erik Belford; Kimberly Wooge, Loretta Wooge; 15 great-grandchildren; sisters Arlene Baker and Wilma (Richard B.) Thompson of Forest City; Darlene (Dean) Nelson of Amherst, WI; Betty Lou (Thomas) Foster of Barstow, CA: sisters-in-law Dorothy Wooge of Indianhead, MN and Lois Steffensen of Vienna, VA and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Galen was preceded in death by his parents, brother Lt. Col. LuVern Wooge (2007), brother-in-law H.R. (Bud) Steffensen (1981) and brother-in-law Allen Baker (2009).

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be designated to the Forest City United Methodist Church elevator fund or to Hospice of North Iowa.

"Oh Lord, I'm in that number when the saints go marching in."