James F. Gallager Jr.

December 12, 1931 - December 24, 2012

James Francis Gallagher, Jr., born on December 12, 1931, of Flossmoor, Illinois and Maui, Hawaii, the loving husband of the late Honey (Cassell) for 16 years; loving father of Julie (Hall) Hanes, Jan (Bob) Ruzich, Beth (Tom) Austin, Nancy Wenger and the late Jimmy Gallagher; cherished grandfather of 7, the late Mark “Goose” Barnes, Daniel and Amy Ruzich, Jimmy and Meg Austin, Brian and Adam Wenger; dear brother of Jack (the late Princie and Lois) Gallagher, Joan (the late David) Padden, the late Mert Creagan, the late Donald (Patricia) Gallagher, Rosalie (Robert) Lawinger, Peggy (Thomas) Gutrich, and Nancy McCready; and many devoted nieces and nephews. As one of the three 2nd generation sons of the founder of Gallagher Asphalt Corporation, Jim was a well known, respected and greatly admired leader in the paving industry throughout the 1960s and ‘70s. As a Beverly native, Jim attended St. Barnabas and continued on to St. Ignatius College Prep. A proud alumnus of Notre Dame University, Jim embodied the “Fighting Irish” spirit every day of his long and rewarding life. Jim will be remembered so fondly by so many for his classic Irish wit, gregariousness, and genuinely warm and loving nature. Jim will be greatly missed by his daughters, sisters, brother and grandchildren. Aloha, Jim. Visitation Thursday, December 27, 2012, 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at Heartland Memorial Center, 7151 183rd Street, Tinley Park, Illinois. Funeral mass Friday, December 28, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at Infant Jesus of Prague Catholic Church, Flossmoor Road & Leavitt Avenue, Flossmoor, Illinois. Interment following at Assumption Cemetery in Glenwood, IL.