Galle, Brian J. (1979-1987)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 15 Oct 1987 p. 5

Birth date: 1979

text of obituary:

Moundridge Children Perish in House Fire; Church Sets Up Fund

Moundridge, Kan. — Two Moundridge children died Oct. 11 in a fire that destroyed their home.

The children were April Wilhelmina Galle, 9, and Brian "B.J." Galle, 8. Their parents were Brian Galle and Jennifer Zerger of Moundridge.

The children were sleeping in an upstairs bedroom with the two children of their babysitter, Marion Sebrant. Sebrant's children were rescued by firefighters before the fire burned out of control. The smoke and fire were so intense, firefighters had to abandon attempts to find the Galle children.

Sebrant was sleeping on the first floor of the house and woke up to the flames about midnight. The stairway was blazing and she was unable to get up the stairs to the children.

She left the house, flagging down a Moundridge police officer, who reported the fire. Firefighters fought the fire for more than two hours before bringing ti under control.

The blaze began when an ember from a downstairs fireplace escaped from behind a screen, according to Tom Achemire, state fire marshall's investigator. hedge wood, a type of wood known for popping cinders as it burns, was being used in the fireplace, he said.

Funeral services for the Galle children were held at Zion Mennonite Church, Moundridge. The church has set up a fund for the family at Citizens State Bank, Moundridge.