Koerselman, Glada 1929-2014

KOERSELMAN, SMALL, REICHERT

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 10/14/2014 at 16:34:44

Glada Koerselman, 84, of Le Mars, Iowa passed away on Monday, September 22, 2014 at the Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars. Funeral services will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Le Mars. Rev. Lil Johnston, Rev. Dr. Jean Ziettlow and Pastor Peter Rosenkvist will officiate. Burial will be prior to the service at 10:00 a.m. at Memorial Cemetery, Le Mars. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. on Friday at the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7:30.

Glada Koerselman, the third daughter of George and Clara (Small) Reichert, was born on December 20, 1929 in Le Mars, Iowa. She graduated in 1947 From Le Mars High School and attended Western Union College in Le Mars and Iowa State College in Ames until 1950. She and Dick Koerselman were united in marriage on September 6, 1969 at St. George’s Episcopal Church, Le Mars. In 1995 she graduated from Education for Ministry and in 1996 graduated from Clinical Pastoral Education at St. Luke’s , Sioux City.

Glada was a self-employed publisher of The Messenger, Plymouth County Courthouse weekly commercial newsletter and author of the weekly Counter-Point column since 1987. She was also a Sioux City Journal news correspondent and photographer from 1986-2005. Glada worked at the Le Mars Daily Sentinel from 1950 until 1986, where she was the editor from 1958 to 1986. The Sentinel won the Iowa Newspaper of the Year in 1969. She was an award winning editor, columnist and editorial writer. Glada was a former member of the Iowa Newspaper Association, National Federation of Press Women, National Newspaper Association and Iowa Press Women

She was a lifelong member of St. George’s Episcopal Church and longtime choir director and senior warden of its Bishop’s Committee. She served as an Episcopal Church lay preacher, lay reader and lay Eucharistic minister. Glada was a founding member of the Plymouth County Historical Museum Board of Directors. She was named to the Museum’s Hall of Fame in 1999. She purchased the 1905 and 1952 sections of Old Central School in Le Mars for $1 in 1995 and raised money to begin salvage of the two buildings before presenting them as a gift to the Plymouth County Historical Museum. Glada was a former member of Le Mars Arts Council Board of Directors and Sweet Adelines barbershop quartet and chorus. She was honored with the Le Mars High School Alumni of the Year award in 2014. In 2013 she was instrumental in saving the 4th of July celebration in Le Mars.

Glada enjoyed gardening, bird feeding, music and was a former vocal soloist.

She is survived by her two sisters, Marilyn Broocks, Freeport, Il and Lloys Jeanne Brown, Osage, IA; a niece, Gay Broocks, Freeport, Il; nephews, Steven Broocks, Coos Bay, OR; Allen Broocks, Freeport, Il; Martin Broocks, Athens, GA; and Bryan Broocks, Chicago, Il; and twin great-nieces.

Preceding her in death are her parents; husband; brothers-in-law Loren Brown and Kenneth Broocks.

Memorials may be directed to St. George’s Episcopal Church or the Plymouth County Historical Museum in Le Mars.