Our History
In 1975 Reamer Funeral Home was built by Alan Reamer at its current location. Several years later Reamer Funeral Home acquired Quinnell Funeral Home, which had served the surrounding communities for over fifty years. In 2002 Rod Galer, a licensed funeral director, and his wife Patsy purchased Reamer Funeral Home and the funeral home became Reamer Galer Funeral Home. Today, Rod and Patsy continue as owner/operators of the funeral home recently shortening the name to R. Galer Funeral Home.
Since purchasing the funeral home, the Galer's have continued to update the facility to ensure the comfort of the families they serve. A barrier free front entrance was the first priority, and is now a reality. This was followed by adding a family lounge with a children’s playroom. Smoking is not available inside the funeral home but a new protected smoking porch is provided. New areas have been added outside for family and friends to sit and visit. The Galer's have also installed a new sound and video system, allowing the families they serve more personalization options for each service. New geothermal heating and air conditioning units provide utmost comfort in the spacious chapel which is furnished with many couches and overstuffed chairs. Two Lazyboy lift recliners are available for anyone who requires assistance sitting or standing.
Rod and Patsy were born and raised here and have always called this area home. They are thankful to be able to give back by serving families during their time of need. They are experienced at providing visitation and funeral services at the churches and gathering halls in the entire Eastern Upper Peninsula and through out the state of Michigan.
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Rodney Galer, Manager/Funeral Director
Rod is a lifelong resident of Pickford. He received his Bachelor Degree in Business Marketing from Lake Superior State University in 1975. Following a 20 year career working as a bank officer, Rod owned and operated U.P. Home Nursing in Sault Ste. Marie. He earned a Bachelor Degree in Mortuary Science from Wayne State University in 2003 and was licensed by the State of Michigan in November 2003. He is active in the local Lion’s Club, serving three times as King Lion. During Rod’s 16 year tenure on the Pickford Board of Education he served as President and Trustee. He is especially proud of the outdoor athletic field and the gymnasium renovation that he was instrumental in accomplishing. Rod serves as the Manager/Director of R. Galer Funeral Home. Rod and his wife Patsy work together at the funeral home. They have three grown children and seven very energetic grandchildren.
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Marlee Michalski, Funeral Director
Marlee Michalski, is a lifelong resident of Pickford. She earned an Associate of Science Degree from Kankakee Community College in Kankakee, Illinois, and Associates Degree in Mortuary Science from De Moines Area Community College in Ankey, Iowa. She was licensed as a funeral director in August 2016. Marlee has four young children that are the light of her life. Marlee’s family is very important to her and she loves that she can raise her children in Pickford near her parents, siblings, and many nieces and nephews.
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Patsy Galer, Office Manager
Patsy is a lifelong resident of Pickford, growing up as Patsy Nayback. She earned her Associate Degree in Accounting from Lake Superior State University in 1975. Patsy recently retired from accounting and closed Galer Accounting, a business she had run for over thirty years serving many businesses and individuals in the area. Rod and Patsy have three grown children and seven energetic grandchildren. They are very close with their family and often travel to see them.
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Richard Storey, Funeral Assistant
Richard Storey was raised in Stalwart and has lived in Pickford for his entire adult life. He worked for the Soo Line Railroad, and then the Michigan Department of Corrections for many years before retiring in 2012. He joined our staff as a funeral assistant but does so much more that that. He is our go to guy for any job we need done around the buildings and grounds. He and his wife, Mary, have three grown children and nine grandchildren.
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Paige Williams, Funeral Director
Paige grew up in the St. Ignace area and is a recent graduate of Wayne State University's College of Mortuary Science, earning top honors and graduating in 2020. Paige was licensed in February 2021.
An active member of the Ojibwe tribe, Paige served as president of the Native American Student Association at Wayne State. Paige believes that it’s important to understand different cultural beliefs and to be able to serve all families, it is important to know who we are serving by understanding cultures and rites. Paige enjoys spending time with their family and friends.