Janie Galko

It is with deepest sorrow that we announce the death of my mother, Janie Ann Struss Galko, who left us on June 4th, 2024 after a beautifully lived life. Full of love, laughter, and resilience, she has touched the lives of all who knew her. To commemorate her incredible journey and celebrate the love she spread, a memorial service will be held in her honor at Lexington Church of God, 810 W. 4th Ave., Lexington, NC, 27292 on Thursday, June 13th, 2024 at 6:00 PM. We invite all who knew her to join us in remembering a truly remarkable woman. Janie was born in LaPorte, IN, and was the first of five children; the oldest to two sisters and two brothers. Janie seriously believed to protect all her siblings from real and imaginable threats. With her tender and compassionate soul, she had an innate ability to care for anyone and did so with every chance she had. Many readers will know where this inevitably lead, a caregiver. After marrying her husband Bruce Edward Galko in 1980, they moved south to the little town of Lexington, NC, where she became a Registered Nurse (RN), graduating with Honors. Shortly after nursing school, Janie became the mother to Abbey Hedrick on Christmas day in 1986. Over the years, Janie has nurtured, cared for, and bettered the lives of so many others and many cats…so many cats! Janie would continue nursing for 35+ years all while helping everyone around her with whatever brand of caregiving was needed. Janie truly made others feel better. Janie’s grandchildren Mason and Gracelynn were the core of her heart. They were and always will be her pride and joy. Janie believed her compassion came from God and that Jesus was the ultimate healer. Christianity was the steadfast compass in her life. Dear, loving, sweet, and kind throughout her life, Janie needed to rest. She had earned it. So as we mourn Janie’s death, we celebrate her beautiful life. She was preceded in death by her husband Bruce Edward Galko, her father Kenneth Struss, in-laws Walt and Alice Galko, grandparents Russell and Martha Ann Struss, and Harold and Janie Marie Fenton. Janie leaves behind her mother Winona (Kenneth) Struss of LaPorte, IN, daughter Abbey (Jason) Hedrick, grandchildren Mason and Gracelynn Hedrick, all of Lexington, NC, sister Tia (Rick) Miscik of Trail Creek, IN, brother Kurt (Michele) Struss of Buchanan, MI, sister Susan (Doug) Helwig of Aurora, IL, brother Eric (Jill) Struss of LaPorte, IN, nieces Brittany Struss, Rebekah Struss, Morgan and Mia Struss, nephews Steven (Pauline) Price, Collin (Sheyenne) Struss and baby Hudson, Gabriel (Paige) Struss, and great nieces Madison (Nathan) Smith and baby Arlo, Malorie Price, Ameliya Price, and great nephews Kosta and Riley Karagianakis, and Miloh Sorenson and Barrie, Gayle, and Janice Justice. Flowers may be sent to daughter Abbey Hedrick’s home, 826 Friendship Church Rd., Lexington, NC 27295, or memorials may be made to The Davidson County Animal Shelter, 490 Glendale Rd. #5828, Lexington, NC 27292. Piedmont Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Galko Family.