Mary H Galneder

Mary Galneder, age 88, of Madison, Wisconsin, passed away on October 27, 2024, at the home she loved so dearly. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, George & Marie (Kegel) Galneder, and her dear husband, David Griffin, of London England. She was born in Detroit, Michigan, and has an only sister, Lee Majors, who resides in St Louis, Missouri. Mary’s parents immigrated to the US from Germany, her father was from Bavaria and her mother from Cologne, Germany. They arrived at Ellis Island in 1928 and raised two beautiful daughters in Detroit, MI.

Mary had the wanderlust for travel and she accomplished that throughout her life. She traveled all over the world, from the deserts in the Southwest to the Taj Mahal. She moved to Madison in 1965 and her full time job at the Robinson Map Library started. Mary retired in 2003 following 38 years of service at the helm of the UW Robinson Map Library. Her accomplishments in building a collection of more than half a million items and a reputation for extraordinary service speak volumes about her dedication and love of what she was doing. Mary studied at Southern Illinois University for her Master’s Degree and in her second year was given a graduate assistantship. She earned her History/Geography major in her final year of study at the University of Munich, Germany, and she spoke fluent German. Mary spent summers helping at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.

Mary and David married in 2003 after knowing each other for many years. They had no children and were devoted to each other. They kept Madison as their home base and enjoyed long stays at David's flat in London, many overseas destinations and wintered in Apache Junction, Arizona. They both enjoyed traveling and exploring the world together. When the 2020 pandemic hit they decided to stay in Madison and their travels sadly ended. It is poignant that they died together at their home in Madison.

Mary will be missed by her dear sister, many friends and all those who touched her life. We ask that you visit Olbrich Park as Mary and David visited it often and loved it. It was a place they felt such peace and saw nature at its best. Mary’s heart was always in Madison and there it will stay.

Donations to the Alzheimer's Association would be appreciated. There will be no formal service.