Richard Douglas “Dick” Gallagher

Richard Douglas “Dick” Gallagher

Washington

Richard Douglas “Dick” Gallagher, age 81, of Washington, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at Halcyon House.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Washington Area Performing Arts & Events Center at the Washington High School (402 Sitler Drive). Visitation will be held from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Washington Area Performing Arts & Events Center. Interment will take place at Elm Grove Cemetery at a later date. Memorials have been established for Hospice of Washington County and Washington Community Y. Family and friends are welcome to wear Iowa Hawkeye, Iowa Corn, Islamorada, or any other style of clothing they would be comfortable wearing to hang out with Dick! Online condolences may be sent for Dick’s family at www.jonesfh.com.

Dick was born on October 2, 1944, in Washington, Iowa, the son of Verle and Dorothy (Thompson) Gallagher. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education and lived in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Morris, Illinois, before returning to Washington in late 1973. Dick was united in marriage to Janet Lee Wisted on October 27, 1973, in Lee, Illinois.

Dick farmed all his life. He taught physical education and driver’s education and coached football, softball, and baseball at Morris High School in Morris, Illinois, for four years, where he met the French teacher, Miss Wisted! After returning to Washington, he taught driver’s education at Washington High School and coached non-school softball and baseball teams for several years.

While in Washington, Dick served in the Iowa National Guard. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, Washington Corn and Soybean Association, WEDG, Farm Bureau, Washington County I-Club, Washington Y’s Men (serving a term as president), Leadership Washington, and Leadership Iowa.

Dick was an active member of two farm commodity organizations: Iowa Soybean Association (serving a term as president) and Iowa Corn Growers Association (serving as Chairman of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board 2010-2011). Dick received the Individual Outstanding Leader Award from the Iowa Corn Board in 2022. Through the Corn Board, he became active in the U.S. Grains Council as leader of the Corn Sector. His tenure on the Corn Board and the Grains Council took him to many countries to promote American agricultural commodities. North and South America: including Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Columbia. Europe: including Austria, Yugoslavia, Molvania, the Soviet Union, and Ukraine. Africa: Egypt: Asia: including China, Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong.

Representing Iowa Corn Growers and the U.S Grains Council, Dick often traveled to Des Moines and Washington D.C. to meet with representatives and senators to advocate for beneficial agricultural policies.

His favorite pastimes were watching and cheering for the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Denver Broncos, boating, cooking pork loin and French fries, and fishing in Islamorada, Florida, with his buddies!

He is survived by his wife, Jan Gallagher of Washington, Iowa; daughter, Kelly (Damon) Terrill of Iowa City, Iowa; son, Ryan (Jessica) Gallagher of Washington, Iowa; four grandchildren: Amelia Terrill, Clayton Terrill, Anola Gallagher, and Liam Gallagher; brother, Bob (Diane) Gallagher of Washington, Iowa; sister-in-law, Judy Sulaver of DeKalb, Illinois; and brother-in-law, Jerry (Nancy) Wisted of McLean, Illinois.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents.