BOWERS, Gladys A. (Benedict) 1906-2004

BOWERS, BENEDICT, ZEMKE, VENECHUK, GILBERT, VENECHUK, RETTERATH, SYMOND, MORONEY

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 4/14/2010 at 12:18:09

Gladys A. Bowers, 97, of St. Ansgar, Iowa, formerly of Grafton, Iowa, died Monday July 26, 2004 at the Good Samaritan Center, St. Ansgar.

Funeral services were Wednesday July 28, 2004 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Grafton with Rev. Wayne Ellingson officiating. Graveside services were at Memorial Park Cemetery, in Mason City, Iowa.

Gladys was born on November 6, 1906 in Rural Nora Springs, Iowa, the daughter of Harrison and Minnie (Zemke) Benedict. She graduated from Nora Springs High School in 1924 and then attended Iowa State Teachers College, Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Gladys married Elmer Bowers December 1, 1925 at the Little Brown Church, Nashua, Iowa. They bought the Schermerhorn Dairy in Mason City, where she was the bookkeeper. In 1955 they moved to Grafton where they owned and operated Farmers Sate Bank.

She enjoyed traveling, dancing, working in her garden, baking for her family and spending their winters in Arizona, where they met many friends.

She was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Grafton.

Gladys will be sadly missed by her three children: Clarice Venechuk and her husband Jack, Grafton; Bud Bowers and his wife Colleen, Gilbert, Arizona, and Joy Buechele and her husband Jerry, Grafton; seven grandchildren, Cindy Retterath and her husband Gene, Grafton, Sam Venechuk and his wife Shelly, Northwood, Tracey Fossey and her husband Mike, St. Ansgar, Pam Symond and her husband Shaun, Flag Staff, Arizona, Rick Bowers, Phoenix, Arizona, Andy Buechele and his wife Lisa, Grafton, and Sara Moroney and her husband Steve, Vista, California; her fourteen great-grandchildren Katie Jo, Samuel and Nicole Venechuk; Billy, Bob and Ben Retterath; Will, Tom and Brianne Fossey; Cody Thompson, Logan Bowers, Hayley, Dylan and Briar Buechele; two great-great-grandchildren Carter and Jenna Retterath.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Elmer 1990, two brothers Harry and Earl and one sister Marie.

Bride Colonial Chapel, Manly, is in charge of the arrangements.

[Northwood Anchor online, July 28, 2004]