Richard Gallagher of Ham Lake was proud of his Irish roots and the trash-hauling business he and his wife started on their pig farm in Blaine, 80 acres he sold in 1969 to developers who built Northtown Mall.

Gallagher, whose grandfather immigrated here from Liverpool, England, in 1871, died from bacterial infections last week as Irish music played in his home, said his youngest daughter, Laurie Gallagher-Babcock. She said that in addition to his six children, her father, who was 88, is survived by eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, eight black Angus cows and eight peacocks.

Gallagher Services provided trash hauling for Twin Cities homes and businesses for 48 years. Gallagher and his wife, Lorraine, who died in 2003, eventually had 33 garbage trucks, painted dark green with shamrocks, before selling the company in 1997, said Gallagher-Babcock, of Ham Lake.

The Gallaghers also built the 143-site Ham Lake Campground by Ham Lake and ran it for about 30 years.

She said her father loved animals and bought a pony for each of his kids. He used the ponies for rides at fundraising carnivals at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Blaine. He ushered for 64 years at the church, usually wearing a dark green suit or a tie with shamrocks, his daughter said.

His Irish humor included naming a pet chicken Paddy O'Chicken and wearing a push-button tie that once crooned "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" during services at St. Tim's, she said.

Gallagher, the last surviving founder of St. Tim's, helped dig its basement as a teenager, before leaving to serve in the Merchant Marine, said daughter Deb Gallagher, 58, of Apple Valley.

He was later a church trustee and, with his wife, donated a grand piano and automated doors to the church, she said. She said her father loved meeting people and Irish songs. He had a friend sing "Danny Boy" at his funeral.

"St. Paddy's Day was definitely a holiday for us," said Gallagher-Babcock, 48. Although her father's mother was Danish, "We were all brought up to believe we were 100 percent Irish. He did an Irish jig at my wedding" in 1989.

Jane Procopio of Ramsey said she'll miss the great July 4th picnic and games that her great-uncle hosted by Ham Lake. Four or more generations of cousins, aunts and uncles attended.

"There were games for smaller kids and they all got a prize. There would be volleyball for the older kids and sometimes we had a giant water slide into the lake," Procopio recalled.

Gallagher sang or whistled every day, often the Irish jigs and songs his father taught him. "He'd sing to the animals when he fed them," Gallagher-Babcock said.

"He had a really big heart and made everybody feel welcome," she said. "He had employees that worked a lifetime for him."

In addition to Deb and Laurie, Gallagher is survived by children Bonnie, of Minneapolis, and Rick, Kathy Lund and Becky Gersdorf, all of Ham Lake. Services have been held.

Jim Adams • 612-673-7658