Vicki Galloup

Vicki Dawn Galloup passed from this world onto the next on Monday, November 23rd, 2020. Her loving family on either side of her to bear witness to the end of a truly magnificent life. She was 66 years old. Vicki was born on March 12th, 1954 in Alma Michigan, the second of six children. After high school, Vicki attended Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, Michigan to pursue a degree in nursing. After graduating top of her class, she began her practice. Vicki’s career blossomed and was defined by a relentless pursuit of excellence. She strived to provide the absolute highest quality of care for those who in their most vulnerable moments needed more than just a medical professional. They needed someone to talk to, someone to confide in, someone to reassure them, someone to hold their hand or to simply sit with and wait for whatever came next. This pursuit of excellence led her to seek out higher education. Vicki attended Wayne State University and despite having to commute from Traverse City to the Detroit campus on a weekly basis, she earned her master’s degree, once again graduating top of her class. This began a new chapter in her medical career working as a nurse anesthetist. For over 30 years she was there for thousands of patients when they needed her most. It was one of her life’s greatest passions.

While living in Traverse City, Vicki met and eventually married her first husband Steve Galloup. This marriage saw Vicki crisscrossing the country from the green forests of Maine, to the red deserts of Arizona, up to the white crested peaks of Alaska, there was hardly a piece of blacktop that Vicki did not see while riding on the back of a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle. Eventually, the allure of adventure and the open road would have to wait, at least for a bit, as she took on perhaps her life’s greatest challenge and joy, raising her two rambunctious boys. Vicki wanted to instill the values she had; hard work, dedication, integrity, and above all else, an iron will into her children. This meant leading by example. From setting up tents in her back yard so she could teach them the different constellations, to weeklong trips across the country, albeit in a minivan instead of a Harley. Vicki took an active role in showing her children the beauty and the adventure that this world has to offer and the lessons that could be learned along the way. Part of this adventure entailed enrolling her two children in martial arts. Never being one to sit on the sidelines, Vicki led the way by joining with her boys. Tough as nails, it was not long until she earned her black belt and even competed at a national level in the Korean martial art of Taekwondo. Perhaps it was her tenacity in the ring or the wisdom and kindness she showed the young men and women she mentored. Whatever it was, something drew the attention of a fellow black belt Sam Larsen. Soon they were dating and eventually married.

After their marriage, Vicki’s family doubled in size as Sam’s two children became her own. Vicki’s ability to love was unparalleled, and she loved all her children with an intensity only a mother could ever fully understand. Vicki was many things and among them she was an adventurer. With Sam by her side and her children in tow, Vicki summited mountains, kayaked across great lakes, and crossed continents. She saw each one of her children through high school and eventually through college. All while volunteering the few precious moments of free time she had to charitable causes. Strong in her faith, Vicki always put others before herself, truly living up to the values she believed in.

Life would eventually be cut short for Vicki, many of her plans left unfinished. However, her life is a testament that it is not the length of time that matters, it is how that time, however long or brief it may be, is spent. There is no doubt that Vicki truly and completely lived. Even in the face of a terrible disease, Vicki’s strength and faith saw her through to the end. She was and is an example to all those who had the honor of knowing her.

Vicki is survived by her husband Sam Larsen; children, Dana Larsen, John (Dani) Galloup, Heather Larsen, Peter Galloup; grandchildren, Bennet and Violet Galloup; her weekend son Christian Gapinski; her mother Phyllis Bigelow; her 5 siblings Dennis (Rebecca) Bigelow, Kimberly (Patrick) McCarren, Michelle (Mark) Hoffman, Bradley Bigelow, Melanie (Gerald) Olson: brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, and many nieces and nephews. Vicki is preceded in death by her father Dean Bigelow.

A celebration of Vicki’s life will be held in the spring. For those that wish to honor Vicki’s memory, try the following; take the road less traveled, do something difficult, be kind to a stranger and above all show a fierce and unconditional love to all those around you.

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