Memorial
Alice M. Galvin (Shramek), 83, passed away July 23, 2023, after a short illness. Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 26 from 5-7 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel and funeral services at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 27 at Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church.
Alice was born June 7, 1940, on a farm in Swisher, Iowa. The youngest of nine children, she attended the local school through 8th grade and then went to work at Woolworth’s in downtown Cedar Rapids, where she met her husband, Jon Galvin. They eloped in 1960. Alice worked at Square D and then as a parent to Donna Marie, Mary Lynn, Kathy Ann, and Timothy Philip. Donna’s health problems led her to New Horizons Living Center East, where Alice worked as a custodian to be close to her. After Donna passed in 1987 Alice became a janitor at Coe College and a member of the Teamsters Union. Ever the pragmatist, she delayed her retirement when the 2008 flood took the family home in Time Check. She finally retired in 2011.
Alice loved her family and especially feeding them. Her Czech baked goods – kolaches, rolicki, zelnicki – were always in demand. She and Jon spent many weekends hunting for carnival glass at auctions, where she amassed a large and colorful collection of hanging lamps and Fenton alley cats. Her family treasures the many items she embroidered: quilts, aprons, pillowcases. She loved flowers of all kinds, and watching her shows, from Wheel of Fortune to CSI Miami. When she did the weekly grocery shopping, she would go to three stores to get the deals. She always picked up suet for the birds and cases of Pecan Sandies for the backyard squirrels. She played a mean game of canasta.
She is survived by her daughters Mary (Robert) Zuroske and Kathy (Daniel) O’Brien; six grandchildren, Angela Boyd (David Ludwig), Timothy Boyd (Kristina), Ann Viall (Nick), Michael O’Brien (Dani), Andrew O’Brien, Matthew O’Brien (Lexi); 13 great-grandchildren, whom she loved fiercely: Shayla Hosek, Ellie Hosek, Griffin Boyd, Brody Hosek, Tenley O’Brien, Everett Boyd, Liam Viall, Greyson Viall, Leland O’Brien, Noah Viall, Owen Viall, Lila Ludwig and Alayna O’Brien; her sister Rose Anna Netolicky; two of her triplet brothers, Roger Shramek and Roy Shramek; and her sisters-in-law Alma, Jan and Leona.
She was preceded in death by Jon Galvin, her husband of 63 years, who passed in April 2023; her children Donna and Timothy; her parents Edward and Eleanor (Fisher) Shramek; her siblings Edward Shramek Jr., Leonard Shramek, Mildred Ballard, Marion Benda, and Ray Shramek; and a lifelong procession of beloved lapdogs.
Alice appreciated the simple things and always encouraged us to do the same. When listening to Jon recount stories from their younger days, usually involving triplet shenanigans, she would say: We had a fun life. You did, Grandma, and you made our lives wonderful too. We miss you tremendously.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Redeemer or to the UnityPoint Inpatient and Outpatient Hospice Units via the St. Luke’s Foundation. Our deep gratitude to the St. Luke’s Hospice team for their unparalleled care of both Jon and Alice.