Alan Dent Galbraith, age 88, of Sac City, IA, passed away on Tuesday, January 31, 2017, at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, IA, following a tragic accident.

     Alan was born October 8, 1928, to Earl and Irma (Dent) Galbraith in Newell, IA.  He received his formal education in the Sac Community Schools, graduating in 1946. Alan spent three years in the U.S. Navy, serving his country and earning the rank of Seaman, SN, and USN when he was honorably discharged October 12, 1949. Following his discharge he completed three years at Drake University, after which he returned home to work with his father in the grain and ice business.  Following this, he was employed as an office manager at the Emperor Stationary Company and the Noble Manufacturing Company both of Sac City.  It was during this time he followed his chosen field as a journalist (sports editor) for the Sac Sun newspaper, and managing editor of the Wall Lake Blade.

     On December 28, 1956 Alan was united in marriage to Bonnie Harrell.  They celebrated 38 years together until her death from cancer on February 14, 1995.  Bonnie brought to the marriage a son, Steven, now of Sisters, OR.  Soon to follow a set of twins were born, Tim of Sac City and Tom of Leawood, KS.  Alan would work with his sons in the back yard teaching them his pastime, baseball.  After the boys were done with the day's practice Alan would finish by throwing the ball up in the air until it went out of sight sending the boys scurrying to hide, not knowing where the ball may land.  It never landed more than three to five feet away from him.

     In 1967, he began employment with the City of Sac City as an operator of the water treatment plant and later becoming the superintendent.  He transferred to the Parks Department and took over the care of Oakland Cemetery until his retirement in 1993.  Also during this time he was the official weather observer for the National Weather Service until he passed on the job in the mid 2000’s.

     He was a member of the Sac City Fire Department since 1960 holding office as secretary and photographer.  He did not often actively fight the fires as he had issues with ladders, loved terra firma, the more firmer, the less terror.  He belonged to the Sac City VFW Post No. 590 where he held office in the local post and at the state level.  Being very patriotic he also belonged to the American Legion Post 195.  He continued his passion with athletics by becoming a certified official in 1954 for the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls Athletic Union.  He umpired for better than 50 years only ending when as he put it: “Could no longer get out of the way of a sharp hit ball."  His son, Tim, had the privilege of being his partner for the last game he umpired.  Tim continued his officiating for better than 25 years.  His son Tom also has followed in his footsteps as an umpire and basketball official.  Alan also officiated track and worked as the clerk of the course. This was during the hay days of the Sac Relays when better than 50 teams would attend the two day track meet.  He was always there to insure all the contestants ran in their scheduled events.  Land events weren’t the only sport he officiated; he was the starter for the local summer swim team.  He wasn’t limited to local sports, he was a diehard Hawkeye fan, never missing a football or basketball game that was televised and one could always find out how the Hawks did by driving by his residence to see the position of the Hawkeye flag flying after the game.  He was honored to become a member of the Sac Community High School Hall of Fame.

     In 1953 he started to volunteer as a member of the chain gang at the local high school football games.  He and other fire department members worked the sidelines until he moved upstairs to the crow's nest to run the clock and scoreboard.  He participated in over 500 games over 50 years.  During the winter months he operated the clock, scoreboard, and announced at basketball games for over 40 years.

     Alan cherished his sons and his daughters-in-law: Steve (Lynda) of Sisters, OR; Tim (Tamy) of Sac City and Tom (Kim) of Leawood, KS; four grandsons: Mathew (Kristina) Jasperson of Boston, MA, Nichalos Galbraith of Sac City, Matthew (Melissa) Galbraith of Overland Park, KS, and Jordan Galbraith of Kansas City; three granddaughters: Anne (Drew) Persival of Portland, OR, Ashley (Jesse) Lorentzen of Jefferson, IA, and Kara Galbraith of Manhattan, KS; and he was anxious to meet his first great-granddaughter scheduled to make an appearance in March.  He will be deeply missed by all his family and friends that he made through out the years.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Irma Galbraith; wife Bonnie; and sister June Rose.