Daniel Patrick Gallagher

Daniel Patrick Gallagher passed away Saturday, May 9 at age 86 from myasthenia gravis and cancer. He was at peace, without pain and surrounded by family. Dan was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Hannah Gallagher, his stepmother Agnes, his brother, Charlie; and his sister, Rosaleen. 

He is survived by his beloved wife, Colette; his children and their spouses, Hugh (Deanna), Patrick (Diane), Heather (Peter), Kelly (Elyse), and Hannah (Franco); and his twelve cherished grandchildren: Norah, Seamus, and Peregrine Gallagher of Ipswich, MA; Fiona, Liam, Delaney, and Conor Lynch of Edina; Rory, Maeve, and Finley Gallagher of St. Louis Park; and Doran and Sloane Castiglioni of Golden Valley.

He is also survived by his sisters, Mary O'Toole (John) and Ellen Anne Anderson (Joel, deceased), as well as a large and loving extended family of in-laws, nieces, and nephews.

Dan was born March 9, 1940, in Mason City, Iowa, to Daniel and Hannah, immigrants from Donegal, Ireland. Following the death of his mother in 1944 his aunt Rose moved in with the family and helped raise him and his sisters. His father passed away suddenly shortly before he left for college. He attended St. Joseph's High School and the University of Notre Dame, graduating in 1963 with a degree in architecture. Heeding the call to service from President John Kennedy, he joined the newly formed Peace Corps and spent two years in Kairouan, Tunisia. 

After his return from the Peace Corps, Dan was introduced to Colette Marzen through mutual friends. Dan and Colette were married in November 1967 and settled in New Hope, MN in 1969. 

 Dan worked professionally as an architect and his Minnesota career began with Pattee Architects in Golden Valley, later becoming a partner at ATS&R Architects. In the early 80s he founded Gallagher Architects, which he ran from the family home for nearly forty years. Some of his clients included Banner Engineering, in Plymouth, Malt O Meal Cereal, in Northfield, and Gearty-Delmore Funeral Home, in Plymouth. Dan gravitated toward faith-filled projects; including Sacred Heart Church in Robbinsdale, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Brooklyn Park, St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church in Plymouth, and St. Victoria's Catholic Church in Victoria.

Dan was an outstanding golfer, avid duck hunter, coach and lifelong sports lover. His favorite team was Notre Dame, and every team his children and grandkids played on. He was very proud of his 48+ years of sobriety. 

If you thought that two years in Tunisia would have sparked a lifelong love of travel to exotic locations, you would be wrong. Other than the occasional road trip to a ND football game or visiting family in Iowa, he preferred to stay close, and to have those he loved close to him. Hunting for him was synonymous with "the slough" about an hour away from his home. With his passing, now only one of us knows the exact location. 

Dan was inspired in his youth by the speeches of John and Robert Kennedy and Rev. Martin Luther King. They kindled in him a fire for social and racial justice that burned bright and only grew stronger as the years passed. Like another of Dan's heroes, the civil rights leader Rev. John Lewis, he was not afraid to make "good trouble". He participated in the formation of PRISM, which today provides over a million pounds of groceries a year to community members. A project that was near and dear to his heart was "Angie's Place" - when he led a team of volunteers from Holy Name Catholic Church in the fundraising, design, and construction of an accessible home for a family with a daughter confined to a wheelchair. Although he lived in New Hope, he considered North Minneapolis part of his neighborhood - for 43 years leading a Loaves and Fishes group that served monthly meals there, involvement in the PEACE Foundation, and for years leading the annual St. Patrick's Day party at Holy Name parish which raised funds for the Ascension School. 

In all instances, Dan's primary goal was to inspire people to do the collective work of making the world a better and more just place. Through his gentle leadership and inspirational example hundreds of fellow church-goers, prayer group members, neighbors and family have engaged in acts of service. 

The loss of both parents at a young age was a formative event in Dan's life. Early in their courtship, he told Colette that his biggest dream was to have a family. Dan was a dedicated father and grandfather whether it was coaching sports, cheering from the sidelines, or simply spending time with his family in the treehouse. His dream of having one of his children join Gallagher Architects came closest to fruition in retirement, when his office was transformed into "Gallagher Daycare" where he and Colette spent their weekdays caring for and bonding with their grandson Finley. This calling was selfless but yet rejuvenating. 

As an architect, Dan knew that the most important part of a building was the foundation - his was Colette. The two of them shared a love for each other that was evident to all that knew them. Dan and Colette raised a family, built his business, golfed, designed an award-winning backyard, grew spiritually, developed friendships - all together. They were each other's partners in everything. He listened to and respected what Colette thought and had to say. Their lifelong love made his dreams possible, and he leaves behind a large and loving family who will forever cherish his memory. 

There will be a Wake for Dan at Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel, 15800 37th Ave N., Plymouth on Thursday, May 21, 2026 from 4 PM-7 PM.  Mass of Christian Burial 11 AM Friday, May 22, 2026 at St. Joseph Parish Community, 8701 36th Ave N., New Hope, MN with a Visitation at church 1 Hr. before Mass.  

 In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Loaves and Fishes or PRISM. 

 If you will be attending the funeral, Dan's request was that you wear earth tones, and not black.