Douglas Michael Gallagher

Douglas “Doug” Michael Gallagher, everyone’s favorite farmer, passed away on August 21, 2025, at the age of 83. He was surrounded by his loving family after fighting a warrior’s battle against injuries sustained in a tractor accident earlier that week. Doug was born on February 17, 1942, in Traverse City to Cecil K. and Marjorie M. (McManus) Gallagher. He attended Lone Tree School in Garfield Township before graduating from Traverse City St. Francis High School, where he earned letters in both football and basketball. Doug later pursued studies in horticulture at Northwestern Michigan College and took a short course in agriculture at Michigan State University. However, his education was interrupted when his brothers were called to serve in the Korean War, and Doug returned to help manage the family farm. In 1963, Doug married Betty Plough. Together they had five children: Colleen (Rick) Ankerson, their children Elizabeth (Mark), Bill (Devon), Marjorie, and grandchildren Arden, Lincoln, and Riley; Pennie (Chris) Gallagher-Halpin, their children Elijah, Amos (Magdalena), Samuel (Lacey), Hannah (Ethan), Miriam (Thad), Ezra, Silas, Michaelah, and grandchildren Josephine, Jael, Montelius, Ezekiel, Lucille, Theodore, and Julianna; Doug (Holly), their children Madison and Douglas; Julie (Patrick) Thon, their children Rachael and Abbie (John Henry); and Geri (Nello) Valentine and their child Carmella Juliet. On December 26, 1975, Doug married Joanne (Underwood) Apsey, who brought four children to the relationship, Tina Baker (Victor Chimoski), their children Keith (Brittanie), Tim (Melissa), Leala (Ryan), and grandchildren Westyn, Tessa, Niko, and Lily; David; Tom (Susie), their children Thomas (Beckman), Eric (Ashley), Jordan, Amanda (Ryan), Tanner, and grandchildren Tess, Hayes, Sutton, and Rowan; and Jennifer (Phil) Meeker, their children Josh (Chloe), McKenzie (William), Allison (Christopher), Brooke, and grandchildren Kade, Sutton, Stone, Crew, Atticus, and August. Together they added three additional children, Cecil (Bridget), their children Cecil Jr. (Ana), Jake, Max, Molly (Sheldon), Hunter (Chloe), Joseph, Zachary, Ty, and Tate, and grandchildren Wyatt, Kimber, and Aubree; Anthony (Katie), their children Anthony Jr., Emma, Jackson and Abella; Melissa (Derek) Osborn their children Brent (Billie), Kole, Andrew, Laney, Louis, and Gracie. He built a life with them rooted in faith, hard work, and family. Instilling in them the values of resilience, dedication, entrepreneurship and the joys of farm living. Doug and Joanne would have celebrated 50 years of marriage this year. In 1968, Doug took over the family dairy and cherry farm, where he worked tirelessly for decades. During that time, he was a member of Michigan Milk Producers Association, Dean’s Foods, and a long-time member of Cherry Growers, Inc. In 1977, he realized a dream of bottling his own milk, selling it at Gallagher Farm Dairy until 1984. In 2007, they opened Gallagher’s Centennial Farm selling their farm raised beef and pork. The market continues operating to this day. For Doug, farm life was never just about the work—it was a way of life. About working side by side with family, sharing lessons, laughter, and love. Whether you knew him for five minutes or fifty years, Doug had a way of touching your life and leaving it better. Doug is also survived by his siblings: brother Gary (Emma), and sisters Margaret (John Bufka), Colleen (Gary Newell), Dorothy (Robert Zimmerman), and Linda, brother-in-law Robert (Janet) Underwood, along with many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Marjorie; brothers John (Bernadine) and James (Patsy); sisters Elizabeth (John Brief) and Mary Jo Gallagher; brothers in law, Don (Wanda) and Ronald (Diane) Underwood and sister-in-law, Beverly (Larry) Stephenson, along with 2 grandchildren, Anthony Jr. and Emma. Doug was a steward of the land, receiving an award marking 25 years of county service at the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service office. He served for nine years as the Director of Soil Conservation for Grand Traverse County. He also received the WCCW radio Good Guy award. Doug will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, a faithful member of St. Francis Catholic Church, a hardworking farmer, a neighbor always willing to lend a hand, and a friend whose kindness knew no bounds. His legacy will continue to live on through the lives he shaped, the family he raised, and the land he so lovingly tended. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at St. Francis Catholic Church from 4:30-7pm with a rosary prayed at 7:00. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated also at the Church on Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 11:00am with visitation beginning at 10:00am. Interment will take place at Linwood Cemetery in Long Lake Township. Memorial contributions may be sent to St. Francis Catholic Church or The Down Syndrome Association of Northwest Michigan. The family of Doug would like to send a special thanks to the first responders and the staff at Munson Medical Center for their fantastic care of Doug and the compassion they showed his family.

Douglas Michael Gallagher

February 17, 1942 - August 21, 2025