Phyllis L. Galstad

Phyllis L. Galstad, 85 of La Crosse and formerly of Coon Valley, went to be with her Lord on Christmas morning December 25, 2023 at her home.

Phyllis L. (Koll) (Kuester) Galstad was born April 19, 1938 to Morris & Virginia (Lewiston) Koll. She grew up on the farm on North Ridge outside of Coon Valley. Phyllis attended North Ridge Grade School and graduated from Westby High School in 1956.

Phyllis met Wayne Kuester and they were married February 23, 1957.  In December of 1957, they had their first of six kids.  Wayne passed away October 12, 1991.

Over her lifetime, Phyllis worked at Woolworth’s Drug Store, downtown LaCrosse, Swift Company and the Rubber Mills. She went back to school and earned her Nursing Assistant certificate and worked at Bethany Riverside in LaCrosse. After leaving the nursing home, she went on to work for Kwik Trip and then Sears, retiring in 2010.

She married James “Jim” Galstad July 15, 1995. They had known each other since their confirmation days when they were young. Jim passed away September 25, 2005.

Phyllis was an active EMT with Tri-State Ambulance for many years. Her years of service to others included, Coon Valley Village Board, Sons of Norway, Upper Coon Valley Lutheran Church, Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church and of course holding several positions with the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 116 in Coon Valley.

She loved spending time with family and friends. She was often referred to as the “Neighborhood” Mom and Grandma. She enjoyed her monthly get-togethers with her former classmates.

Survivors include her children, Kathy (Sid) Baker, Tammy Highman, Rhonda (Mike) Dalton, and son-in-law Terry Pederson all of LaCrosse, Jodi (Duane) Powers of Tomah, Ken (Amy Kuester) of Onalaska and Jeff Galstad of Coon Valley;  sisters, Beverly Nelson and Sharon Smith of Holmen; sisters-in-law, Diane Carson, Gloria Galstad, and Shirley Galstad; 21 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, extended family, friends and longtime special friend Julianne Simko.

She was proceeded in death by her parents; husbands, Wayne Kuester and Jim Galstad; daughter Sheryl Pederson; siblings Terry (Dawn) Koll and Dorothy (Rich)Garbers; in-laws, Jan and Ray Raasch, Annette and Ossie Ihle, C. Verdell Nelson, Gene Galstad, Richard Galstad, and Elder Carson.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday December 30, 2023 at the Coon Valley Lutheran Church. Rev. Mark Bartusch will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. A visitation will be held on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley and at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time. Condolences may be given at selandsfuneralhome.com.