Rev. Galen E. Peckham (’62)
This obituary was originally posted by Locke Funeral Services and can be found here.
Rev. Galen E. Peckham, 90, of Cedar Falls, formerly of La Porte City, passed away peacefully from complications of Parkinson’s on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born June 28, 1934, in Cresco, the son of Adele Mae Peckham. He was a 1952 graduate of Cresco High School, a 1956 graduate of Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, and a 1962 graduate of the Boston University School of Theology.
He married Patricia Joan Eckerman on August 12, 1956, in Cresco. They have been united in marriage for 68 years and together for 74 years.
Galen’s dedication to his work was unwavering. 
He served as the Director of Physical Education at Elgin, IL YMCA and as a United Methodist pastor from 1962-1998, in West Bend-Cylinder-Bradgate, Sibley, Charles City, Bloomfield, La Porte City, and Ames. He also served as Superintendent for the United Methodist Church for 7 years in Spencer and Des Moines. He and Pat retired to La Porte City in 1998 and attended both St. Paul UMC and Geneseo UMC. They moved to Western Home’s Windridge community in 2020. Galen remained an active member of the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church, which was a testament to his faith and service.
Galen found his life’s passions in his Cresco beginnings. He was raised by his grandparents at home, and nurtured by Cresco teachers, coaches and employers. They built a sense of connectedness and self-worth in Galen. This was reflected in the relationship building and connectional manner he exhibited in all spheres of his life, including his ministry, community and interdenominational activities, and music and athletics.
Galen was taken to church several times per week as a child. It was during an altar call at a Methodist youth conference at Grace Methodist Episcopal in Waterloo that he received his calling to become a minister. This would have a profound effect on the direction of his life.
Galen loved athletics. He was an All-State football player and wrestler at Cresco, which would lead to his recruitment to Cornell College. Cornell also became a necessary building block to entering the ministry. Wrestling also enabled many sustained friendships with competitors, teammates, and family. The personal stories of Northeast Iowa and Iowa collegiate wrestling continue to resonate with his family and friends. Many trips to NCAA wrestling tournaments with family and friends, and chance encounters with old cronies from the past were some of his best memories. Post-college, Galen also relished the opportunities to take a genuine interest in the athletes and coaches and support teams in whatever community he lived.
Galen was a great lover of music. He was an All-State saxophonist in high school and considered being a band instructor. He played piano and sang in church choirs. He enjoyed classical, jazz, and sacred music, and KUNI-FM. He enjoyed meeting and supporting student performers in the many communities in which he served.
Galen was a great lover of nature. He led his family on cross-country camping trips across the US and Canada, to ocean, mountains, lakes, and the Minnesota Boundary Waters. He took great pride in his yard, and along with Pat built beautiful landscapes in which to relax from season to season. In retirement he enjoyed taking daily bike rides on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail.
Galen and Pat enjoyed international travel, in addition to camping in the US. They were gifted an enriching trip to the Holy Land by St. Paul UMC. In retirement, they visited the British Isles, Italy, and Central Europe.
Galen was a long-time member and five-time president of Lions Clubs across the state and an active volunteer for Crosslines in Blackhawk County. In retirement, he enjoyed many fishing trips with his long-standing friends from La Porte City. He also enjoyed going to the bakery for many cups of coffee with his crew, and the opportunity to attend any sporting event. One of his greatest loves was spending time with his grandchildren and supporting their love of music, sports, and academics. He will be remembered by many smoking his pipe in the church office, while working in the yard, or while practicing the Sunday sermon on a long walk.
He is survived by his wife, Pat of Cedar Falls; two sons, Dean Peckham of Sacramento, CA, David (Diana) Peckham of Seattle, WA; one daughter, Mary (Brian) Jaquith of Cedar Falls; four grandchildren, Bradley (Abbey) Jaquith of Dunkerton, Rebecca (Blake Harms) Jaquith of Cedar Falls, Angela (Lucas Hoffmann) Peckham of Berlin, Germany and Evan Peckham of Seattle, WA; two great-grandchildren, Aubrielle and Brecklyn Jaquith; a brother in law, Lindsay (Deb) Eckerman of Waverly and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Adele; a grandmother who raised him, Jennie Peckham; and a daughter in infancy.
Memorial Service will be held 1:30 p.m. Saturday, October 5, 2024, at St. Paul United Methodist Church in La Porte City. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Friday at St. Paul United Methodist Church and also the hour before the service.
The Peckham family kindly asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family, where a memorial fund will be established.
Locke in La Porte City is in charge of arrangements (319-342-3131). Online condolences may be left at www.lockefuneralservices.com.