DELPHOS — The former Mayor of Delphos, Michael Gallmeier, died Thursday.
Gallmeier stepped down from the mayor’s position in June of last year after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer a month earlier.
Gallmeier was in his third term as mayor when he was diagnosed with cancer and previously had served eight years on Delphos City Council.
Dan Hirn served briefly as mayor until John Parent was selected as mayor.
Parent, however lost in November to current mayor Josh Gillespie.
Shane Coleman, Delphos Safety Service Director, had served under Gallmeier for nearly four years.
“It wasn’t really a shock, but it was pretty devastating for all of us who had a chance to work with Mike. Mike was a great guy. Loved his community. Loved his employees, and you know we just all had a whole lot of respect for him,” Coleman said.
Coleman said Gallmeier was respected by those he worked with.
“It was a great relationship. Mike hired me four years ago and we did everything together. Everything we did was team-related. We sat down, we talked every day about every decision that was made was done together as a group,” he said.
“He supported us 100 percent,” said Delphos Fire Chief Kevin Streets. “He was really, toward the end of his time that he was really wanting to see these firefighters kept. That was a big concern for him and it bothered him that he couldn’t finish what he wanted to do,” Chief Streets said.
Gallmeier’s love for Delphos was something that truly shone through.
“Absolutely. The community came first for Mike. His main goal was to serve and everything he did centered around others and on a daily basis whether it was in the office, out of the office, related to legislation, at a council meeting or the food drive he was involved with. Everything that Mike did was community related,” Coleman said.
“It’s a sad day. Not only was Mike our mayor, he was a good friend,” Streets added.
Gallmeier’s funeral will begin at 1 p.m. Monday at Trinity Family Life Center, Delphos.
Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Harter and Schier Funeral Home, Delphos.
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