Galen K Lillethorup

Galen Kragh Lillethorup was born on November 3, 1931, in Creighton, Nebraska. He departed this world to be home with his Lord and his family on April 16, 2020, at the age of 88.

When Galen was six months old, his parents, Niels and Lela, sold every piece of farm equipment they owned and drove their young family to their new home in North Omaha. Niels and Lela were especially hard workers during the Great Depression, often holding several jobs at once to keep food on the table. A relative once said of them, “If you want to make footprints in the sands of time, wear work boots, because that’s what Niels and Lela did”. That work ethic served as a guidepost for Galen and his older brother, Kragh.

Galen graduated from Omaha North High School in 1948. Like many young men at that time, he enlisted in the Air Force to serve in the Korean War. He was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. After his service, he enrolled in the journalism program at Omaha University and earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1956.

Galen enjoyed a life-long career in television and advertising. His career began at NBC’s Omaha affiliate television station, KMTV Channel 3. Galen was enormously proud of his contributions as a pioneer of the new medium of television. He spent his first three years in the news department where he and his colleagues introduced many new filming and reporting methods you can still see today. He then spent several years writing commercials and creating campaign strategies for KMTV’s in-house advertising department. It was during this time that he refined his creativity and passion for advertising.

It was also during this time that Galen met and fell in love with KMTV coworker Marcene Athen. They married at Pella Lutheran Church in 1956. Daughter Kerri was born in 1958 and son Tim in 1961.

In 1964, Galen left KMTV for Bozell and Jacobs, Omaha’s largest advertising agency and one of the nation’s most up and coming firms at the time. By 1969, he was named Vice President / Creative Director and went on to lead the Los Angeles location for several years. He worked on many memorable, award-winning projects and campaigns in his 16 years at the agency. One of the most notable was Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom , where he traveled to different parts of the world with hosts Marlin Perkins and Jim Fowler. Galen also worked on television commercials for Union Pacific Railroad, Winnebago Motorhomes, and Old Home Bread. For Old Home Bread, Galen teamed up with friend Bill Fries to co-write commercials featuring a character Bill created named C.W. McCall. The series of commercials won national awards and helped launch Bill’s recording career as C.W. McCall. Galen regularly expressed his gratitude for having the privilege of working with a long list of talented individuals.

In 1980, Galen charted a new path and established a boutique advertising firm with Nellie Sudavicius MacCallum, an award-winning art director from Bozell and Jacobs. Galen & nellie, Inc. quickly landed clients including Northwestern Bell Telephone Company, Opera Omaha, Vise-Grip Tools, and Diamond Scientific. From 1980 until 1989, the agency won hundreds of advertising awards and employed a staff of around 30 people. In 1989, Galen began a smaller company, Galen Group, and continued working for a select list of clients until his retirement in 1996.

Galen was fascinated with airplanes from a very young age. In grade school, he dreamt of having his own plane one day. He would ride his bicycle to Omaha Municipal airport and sweep out the hangers in exchange for airplane rides. Galen began taking private flying lessons while working in television news. He was hooked right away and co-purchased a 1966 Cessna 172 G Model in 1971. He proudly owned the airplane for 33 years, often taking friends and family up to bore holes through the sky.

In retirement, Galen renewed his early interest in model airplanes. He began building detailed scale model replicas of aviation’s most notable flying machines. He created nearly forty replicas by hand and proudly hung them around his office. Here’s a video, narrated by Galen, that tells the stories behind his creations: https://vimeo.com/252080980 .

Galen also volunteered countless hours at Omaha’s Springwell Danish Cemetery, where he served as President for many years. He was proud to organize the Memorial Day service each year. With help from volunteers, he and Marcy would place flags on each veteran’s grave.

In his later years, Galen enjoyed going to lunch once or twice a week with old friends from the Omaha Press Club, seeing his grandchildren, reading about history, and watching classic westerns on television. One of his famous sayings was: “I’ve been in assisted living for 63 years!” Galen was lovingly taken care of by his sweet wife Marcy until his final hour.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Marcene Lillethorup, daughter Kerri Lillethorup, son Tim Lillethorup and wife Krisha, grandchildren Trisha Yost, Alston Johnson, Amy Lillethorup, Bridget Lillethorup, and great-grandchildren Dalton Yost, Kailen Yost, and Harper Johnson. He is preceded in death by parents Niels and Lela Lillethorup, brother Duane Kragh Lillethorup, sister-in-law Betty Lillethorup and nephews David and James Lillethorup. Galen will be laid to rest at Springwell Cemetery alongside his parents and grandparents.

There will be a memorial service for Galen this summer. His family will post the event date when it is determined. If you would like to send a memorial, please send it in Galen’s name to the Omahawks Radio Control Club at omahawks.org.

Lo there do I see my father; Lo there do I see my mother and my sisters and my brothers; Lo there do I see the line of my people, back to the beginning. Lo, they do call me, they bid me take my place among them, in the halls of Valhalla, where the brave may live forever.