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Robert (Bob) Gallagher passed away Sept. 25, 2026 at Spirit Mountain Hospice House in Cody, Wyoming, with his daughters by his side. He was 89 years old. His only concern at the time of his passing was that he would be remembered as a Cody Bronc. We assured him that he would continue to be remembered as a Panther, a Montana Grizzly, and an OU Sooner, despite passing away at a Cody location. The Spirit Mountain Hospice House proved to be a beautiful place to spend his last few days here on this earth.
Bob was born in Missoula, Montana, on Dec. 23, 1936. He was the third of eight children born to Virginia and James Gallagher. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marlene, and his siblings, Jim, Irene, Don, Gerry and Pat. He is survived by two younger sisters, Judy and Rose. He is also survived by his three daughters, Leslie (Jim) Christensen, Tracy (Nick) Metzler, and Gina. Bob has nine grandchildren: Cole (Tori), Kennedi, Lani, Brooke (Jake), Fena, Christa, Jackson (Caroline), McCall and Sofi and two great-grandchildren, James and Carter. Grandpa was so very proud of each of his grandchildren; all of them so individually-perfect in his eyes.
From a very young age, Bob was resourceful and determined. At the ripe old age of 5, he had his own paper route, upselling his older buddies at churches, theatres, and hotels. Apparently, the little businessman took up smoking at age 5, but gave it up by age 6. This paper route allowed Bob to attend the National Boy Scout Jamboree at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, in 1950 with 47,000 other Boy Scouts. It was a trip of a lifetime for him!
Being one of eight children, and living in a one bedroom home in Missoula, Bob decided sleeping outside in his sleeping bag was a better option than sleeping indoors. Although the Montana winters were cold, he and his dog, Rex, enjoyed not only sleeping outside under the stars, but also got in lots of fishing on the Blackfoot River. As a high school student, Bob was the manager of the local bowling alley and later, the Fox Theatre. The money he earned from these jobs allowed his family to move into a larger home, complete with indoor plumbing!
At the age of 18, Bob’s luckiest day came when he rolled into the Frontier Drive-in, meeting a cute girl on rollerskates who was working there. They began to date, fell in love, and Bob and Marlene Flynn were married on Aug. 17, 1957. Bob and Marlene were married at the Lutheran Church in Missoula. They gave birth to their first daughter, Leslie, while living in Missoula. Bob was then working for Safeway Grocery Stores and was transfered to Powell to become its new manager in 1965. Daughters Tracy and Gina were born in Powell in 1965 and 1967.
After only a few years of residing in Powell, Bob and Marlene purchased Big Charley’s Drive-In Restaurant. Bob quickly learned how to manage cooking for several carloads of people at once, while taking to-go phone orders, which was not an easy task. Leslie, Tracy, and Gina helped out by filling Cokes and putting hamburger buns in the warmer, while the little green Volkswagen bug delivered hamburgers, fries, and Cokes around the community.
After a fun run with Big Charley’s, Bob and Marlene decided to open their own dine-in restaurant. After months of trying out new recipes and remodeling an old gas and service station in downtown Powell, they opened Hansel & Gretel’s in 1973. Hansel & Gretel’s became a popular restaurant for the community and the entire Big Horn Basin. Sports teams often came for pizza and fries after games, and it was a great place for many to meet up with friends. It was a family endeavor, with the entire family engaged to make it all work. Bob and Marlene spent 36 years owning and operating Hansel and Gretel’s before retiring in 2009.
Bob was also known in Powell for sponsoring and playing on the H & G’s Basketball Team in the Powell Men’s League, running annually in the Powell Airport Hill Run and the Beartooth Mountain Run, hunting, fishing, spending time at his cabin in Sunlight Basin, serving in Kiwanis, and attending and participating on the church council at Hope Lutheran Church.
Bob lived his last four years at The Heartland Assisted Living Community. He loved the other residents, the staff, and the food at The Heartland. He frequently commented, “If you have to be someplace, this is a great place to be!” We are forever grateful to those at Tßhe Heartland for welcoming him there and making it home for his last few years.
A funeral service will be held Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, at 10 a.m. at Hope Lutheran Church.
Memorial contributions can be made to Spirit Mountain Hospice House in Cody, 808 Canyon View Ave., Cody, WY 82414, The Heartland Assisted Living Facility, 639 Ave. H, Powell, WY 82435 or Hope Lutheran Church, 588 Ave. H, Powell, WY 82435.
