Gladys Elnora Miller 1908 - 2005

MILLER, GANTZ

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/7/2014 at 19:00:27

Onawa Democrat
25 May 2005

Gladys Wyland, 96, Onawa. Iowa died Friday, May 20, 2005 at Burgess Health Center, Onawa.

Gladys Elnora Miller was born August 25, 1908 near Onawa, Iowa on a farm in Franklin Township, the daughter of Conrad and Minnie (Gantz) Miller. She learned to do the farm work at an early age, rolling corn with horses in the spring, hand picking corn and doing much of the cooking because of her mother's ill health.

She attended Blencoe School and then worked cleaning houses for several people in the area. Gladys and Melvin Wyland were married February 9, 1928 at Onawa. Two daughters were born to this union. She maintained her home in Onawa until 1951 when she and her daughter, Joyce moved to Sioux City, Iowa. Gladys lost her trailer house and belongings in the flooding of the Floyd River in 1952. She was a waitress at the Corner Cafe and worked two jobs to survive. She didn't own a car; so walked or rode the bus to work.

She met Bob Rongley and they enjoyed each other's company until his death in 1994.

Gladys was preceded in death by two daughter, Alberta in infancy and Joyce Rachelle; her parents; three brothers and three sisters.

Gladys was a hard worker and a very loving person. She still lived in her own home doing_ the cooking and household chores. She was very sharp minded until her death. She will long be remembered by her many friends and relatives who will cherish many memories she has left; such as remembering her childhood days making her own games and toys to play with. She made playhouses in the yard by taking, sticks to make partitioned rooms and played farming using the old red checkered oil cloth on the table for her corn fields, and kernels of corn as the rows, then picked corn, by hand, using match boxes for wagons.

A graveside service was 1:00 P. M. Monday, May 23, 2005 at the Onawa Cemetery with Rev. Dennis Olsen officiating. There was no visitation. Arrangements were under the direction of Rush Family Care Service, Onawa.