Bernadine (Bernie) Mary Gallagher passed December 16th, 2023, at the age of 92. Bernie was born at home to Martin and Helen (Kolarik) Korson in Suttons Bay on May 20th, 1931. She was the sixth of thirteen children.
Bernie had told her father she would never marry a farmer, until she met John ( Jack) Gallagher, a fruit farmer, in January of 1953. They were married June13th, 1953, at Saint Wenceslaus Church in Gills Pier. Bernie’s belief was either you knew you were in love, or you didn’t and scoffs at today’s long engagements. Bernie and Jack enjoyed thirty-seven wonderful years together before his passing in 1990. Bernie and Jack had seven children, Maria (Sidney) Lammers, Debra (Douglas) Iseri, Jeanne (Steven) Sheren, John Gallagher II, Martin (Stacey) Gallagher, Margaret Dewey, and Michael Joseph (Gayle) Gallagher.
Bernie attended Houdek School for first grade, St. Michael’s in Suttons Bay 2nd-7th grade and Suttons Bay Public Schools 8th-10th grade, graduating in 1949 from St. Mary’s of Lake Leelanau. In the summer, Bernie and her siblings picked cherries at Waterman’s and Ance’s orchard to help pay for school clothes. She successfully picked twenty-five lugs of sweets in one day! Bernie also picked cucumbers and string beans for her parents and potatoes for Uncle Lawrence…even in the snow. She had a large garden and canned many of the fruits and vegetables. She was always sure to preserve mulberries and cherries for kolache, a Bohemian dessert, and a family favorite.
