Galen Marlin Sillanpa, Cloquet, MN, passed away at age 70 on December 15, 2024 at Inter-Faith Care Center, Carlton, MN. He was born in Duluth, MN on April 12, 1954, one of eleven children of William and Aino (Mursu) Sillanpa.

Galen graduated from Denfeld High School in 1972 and attended the former Suomi College and Vermillion College. He was employed as a private homecare attendant, later as a physical therapy aide, and as an Activity Department aide for Inter-Faith Care Center, Carlton. His former wife was Laura Brubaker, Columbus, OH.

He was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Cloquet and a follower of Jesus Christ. He felt the things that make life worth living were his faith and family. He would help friends and strangers at his apartment, with finances, and in other ways. Money and personal property weren’t very important to him. What he had he would give to others. He was a poetry writer who shared his writings at his church, places he would frequent in Cloquet, and with family and friends.

Galen was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Alvin; sister, Elaine (Breimon), sister-in-law, Linda Sillanpa; and special friend David Guyard.

He is survived by many siblings, Ronald, Esko; Lola McCauley, Larry (Jennifer), John (Toby), Gerald (Cheryl), Duluth; Marla (James McCann), Rosemount; Norma (Frankie “Jim” DeDominces), Cloquet; and Daniel, Thailand; and special friend Gary Anderson.

The family thanks the staff at Inter-Faith Care Center, Carlton, and Aspirus St. Luke's At Home Hospice, Duluth for their compassionate assistance. 

A time of remembrance for Galen will be at Atkins-Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th Street, Cloquet, with Inter-Faith Chaplain Jon Skansgaard presiding on Friday, December 20, 2024 at 11:00 am. A visitation will be held at 10:00 am prior to the service. A luncheon will follow the service. 

Burial will be at a later date at New York Mills, MN, Woodland Cemetery at a family plot.