In Memory Of

Maurice Joseph Galli

Mar 19, 1941 - Nov 8, 2025

Notice

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Maurice’s name to Alzheimer Society of Canada or Dementia Society.

Obituary

Born March 19, 1941, in Edmonton
Passed Away November 8, 2025, in Rocky Mountain House

Maurice is survived by his nephews, Clarence (Anita)Lambert and Donald (Helen) Lambert, his nieces, Pearl (Kamal) Hamdon and Maxine (Brian) Kenworthy, and many great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his good friends, Wendy Fowler, Peggy Murphy, and Irene Kirklaan.

He was predeceased by his mother and father, Alida and Anselmo, and his sister, Marianne Lambert.

Maurice’s mother passed away when he was a mere 10 years old. He lived with his sister and father on the family farm in New Sarepta until his sister married and moved. It was then just him and his father until his father passed away in 1971. After his father’s death, he farmed for 1 more year and then moved to Drayton Valley to work with his sister and her husband. After a few short years in Drayton Valley, he packed up to move to the town of his heart, Rocky Mountain House.

Maurice loved his town and donated countless hours of volunteer time towards improving and displaying Rocky. Maurice sponsored Rocky youth hockey through his company, Twin City Enterprises. He was an instrumental member of the Rocky Airshow; he and his good friend, Ken, for years gave the children of Rocky a spectacular Christmas Eve with the Santa Sleigh flyover. He could be found at the barricades of every parade and event, such as the Rocky Trade Show, Christmas Parade, Rodeo Parade, and Market on Main. He had his own special tables in his favorite restaurants around town, and it was not uncommon to hear one of his girls(waitresses) say he made a pretty good substitute dad. He won the Mayor’s Recognition Award for Citizenship Voluntary Service in 2012.

Maurice was passionate about airplanes, big, small, military, model, jets, and everything in between. He became a member of the Edmonton Flyers Club in his younger years and then became a member of the Experimental Aircraft Flyers. When he moved to Rocky Mountain House, he became a member of the Barnstormers Model Airplane Club and created many aircraft to fly. He restored a WWII Spitfire for the town of Nanton and is recognized there for being one of their air display's talented contributors. Maurice was instrumental in organizing the Rocky Airshow for many years. He also travelled across North America, learning and teaching his wisdom to other communities that wanted to host airshows. Maurice was a leading force in bringing the Snowbirds to the Rocky Air Shows. The pilots and crew were all very fond of Maurice and respectful of his vast knowledge. He believed in the wisdom of one of the CAF mottos: AIM HIGH, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, USE YOUR BRAIN, NEVER QUIT, BE READY TO GO, EXPECT TO WIN.

Maurice never really retired. Working was his joy. He said, “When you love what you're doing, it is not work.” Boy, did he like being out on a job. He never stopped learning new things and was a jack of all trades. He owned steamers, was an industry painter, and sold his miracle Pink Water. And, throughout it all, he loved to work! Up until shortly before he passed, he would still instill advice to his nephew, Clarence.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Maurice’s name to Alzheimer Society of Canada or Dementia Society.

Condolences

Diane Sarvas:

It was a great honor to help Maurice with the Airshow signage and a number of aircraft decal jobs from creation to installation, especially the Snowbird decals on the plane that is on display in Nanton.

Rocky Barnstormers R/C Club:

Our club's sincere condolences to all of Maurice's family and friends. Maurice was a long time member of our club and part of our field committee. He is missed.
Keep flying Maurice!
Ray Brosinsky.

Nikki Johnson:

Well Maurice, I am sorry you are gone. My mom worked for you for 40 years and you were a major part of my family’s life. Thank you.

Dawn & Donn Mason / Meryl & Ernest Campbell:

Condolences to Maurice's family...he was a great individual that we have had the pleasure of knowing for many many years and was always great to deal with in business as well. He had a great sense of humor and will be missed by many...

David Mitchler:

Sorry to hear the loss of Maurice I will miss him and his story’s I enjoyed talking to him

Debbie Baich:

Our heartfelt condolences.

Roy Hafeli:

I'm so very sad to hear of Maurice's passing. An amazing individual and pillar of the Rocky Mountain House Air Show. Every time we arrived for the show, he'd be there with a big smile and would ask me to do my rendition of Bob and Doug Mackenzie's yodel. It was our fun little greeting. All through the event he would tirelessly be running around putting out all the little fires that happen at most events. He will be missed.

Roy Hafeli
Air Show Announcer

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