Gladys Beall 1920-2002

BEALL, BECHTEL, RENNE, COLBY, DEAL, SOMMERMEYER, SIMS, HARLAN, KURTH, BARR

Posted By: SGF (email)
Date: 3/12/2003 at 05:19:37

Gladys E. Beall, 82, of Waukon, died Friday, December 27, 2002, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, following a brief illness. Funeral services were held Monday, December 30 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, with Rev. Richard N. Eick officiating. Burial was in the Rossville Cemetery. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon assisted the family with arrangements. Gladys Ellen Bechtel was born February 8, 1920, on the Jefferson Township, rural Waukon farm of her parents Ben and Laura (Renne) Bechtel. She was baptized in Ludlow, confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, and attended rural schools in Ludlow and Jefferson townships. On December 25, 1942, she married Carl Beall in Brownwood, Texas, where Carl was stationed in the Army. They lived in Texas for a time, where she worked as a housekeeper for a family there. She moved to Dubuque while Carl was overseas, where she worked at a battery factory for a little over a year. Following Carl's discharge, they moved back to Allamakee County, where they farmed in rural Waukon and lived in Luana and near Churchtown before moving to Waukon in 1994. Gladys did housekeeping, painting, wall papering, and decorating for numerous area families. She also worked as a cook for the MFL School for seven years. Gladys was a member of Zion United Church of Christ, Esther Circle, and Women's Fellowship. She enjoyed fishing, gardening, playing cards, and dancing. She did a lot of sewing and crochet as well as weaving rugs. She and Carl spent several winters traveling the southern US in their trailer while visiting family. She enjoyed visiting and coffee with her friends. Survivors include her husband Carl of Waukon; a daughter, Connie (Boyd) Colby of Hiawatha; a grandson, Jeff (Susy) Colby of Tiffin; one grandson; and four sisters, Bernice Deal of Waukon, Gertrude (Milton) Sommermeyer of New Albin, Doris (Vernon) Sims of Cedar Rapids, and Judy (Charles) Harlan of Des Moines. She was preceded in death by her parents' two sisters, Inez Kurth and Ruby Barr; and a brother, Lloyd Bechtel. Casket bearers were her nephews, Dean Bechtel, Dennis Deal, Curtis Kurth, Dale Kurth, Bruce Barr, and David Sims.

©Waukon Standard 2003
-source Waukon Standard, January 1, 2003