Patrick R Galleger

Patrick R. Galleger passed away on March 13, 2026, at the age of 84 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Born in Atchison, Kansas around 1940, his life story reflects the American experience of the mid-20th century—a journey from small-town Kansas through multiple careers and eventually to entrepreneurship in Wisconsin's computer industry.

Patrick's early years were shaped by his family's connection to the Union Pacific Railroad. His father worked for various properties operated by the railroad, including the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks, and Sun Valley in Utah. When World War II began, his father was assigned the responsibility of escorting troop trains across the country, a role that occasionally required Patrick's mother to travel to Kansas City to deliver fresh clothing via suitcase exchanges.

Growing up in Atchison, Patrick received his elementary education at Holy Cross and later attended Cathedral High School, where he was fortunate enough to win a one-year scholarship. He noted that while another student had turned down a one-year scholarship at Creighton University, Patrick received only the single year of funding. He began his college education at St. Benedict's College in Atchison, Kansas, pursuing a liberal arts major.

During his youth, Patrick gained work experience through his father's railroad connections, spending four summers working as a bellhop at the Grand Canyon. He also worked at a dude ranch in Colorado owned by Ernie and Mezy Keys, where he learned the value of hard physical labor, including the challenging task of digging out manure-filled corrals and packing materials into pipelines to prevent freezing during Colorado's harsh winters.

After his western experiences, Patrick transitioned to hotel work in Denver, holding positions at several establishments including the Park Lane Hotel, the Cosmopolitan Hotel, and the Hilton Hotel. His career took a significant turn when he was hired by Western Union as what he described as "the first salesperson hired off the street from within 100 years of the company."

Patrick's time with Western Union included a challenging period when his supervisor transferred him to Watts during the civil unrest of the 1960s, which he characterized as a punitive assignment. However, a former colleague working in the corporate office eventually offered him an opportunity that brought him to Milwaukee, where he worked in Western Union's Wisconsin territory for five years.

The defining moment of Patrick's professional life came when he left Western Union and "walked into a computer store in Menominee Falls called Delta Computers." The senior partner was considering shutting down the business but reconsidered and offered Patrick the opportunity to continue operations. Six months later, in 1990, Patrick bought out his partner and had "been running it ever since." The business relocated twice, moving from Menominee Falls into Waukesha, and later to what he called the "Golden Gate facility" after First Federal Savings took over their previous building locations.

Patrick's personal life was marked by both loss and new beginnings. His first wife, Carol, died in 1999. Later, he met another woman named Carol, and they celebrated 20 years together before marrying at a surprise ceremony where one of Carol's sons performed the marriage on stage. Patrick spoke warmly of his blended family, noting that between "her crew and my crew together, we're looking at about 20 grandchildren."

Throughout his later years, Patrick remained active in his community and maintained strong family connections. He established deep roots in Wisconsin, where he successfully operated his computer business for more than three decades, serving the growing demand for computer hardware and support services in the Milwaukee metropolitan area.

Patrick R. Galleger's death notice was handled by the Cremation Society of Milwaukee - West Allis, with no public service information provided, suggesting either private family wishes or a simple memorial approach consistent with his practical nature. His life story, from the railroad properties of his youth to the computer age of his later career, exemplifies the adaptability and entrepreneurial spirit that characterized his generation's response to America's rapidly changing technological landscape.