Ahrendt, Gladys H. 1917-2004

AHRENDT, SCHULZ, ONKEN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/13/2007 at 11:29:46

LE MARS, Iowa -- Gladys H. Ahrendt, 86, of Le Mars passed away Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2004, at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Le Mars, with the Rev. Gary Landsness officiating. Burial will be in Christ Lutheran Cemetery, Grant Township, rural Le Mars. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with the family present after 6 p.m. and a prayer service at 7:30 p.m., at Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church.

Gladys Hermina Ahrendt was born Dec. 3, 1917, to Herman and Emilie (Onken) Schulz, on the family farm in Plymouth County, Iowa. She attended country school and later helped to raise her siblings and work on the farm.

On Dec. 9, 1936, she and Bennie Ahrendt were united in marriage at her parents' home near Craig, Iowa. The couple made their home on a farm in Elgin Township near Seney, Iowa. The family farmed in Elgin Township until retiring in 1975. They made their home in Le Mars during their retirement years.

She was baptized and confirmed at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Craig. She joined Christ Lutheran Church when she married Bennie. She was an active member having taught Sunday School and confirmation, sang in the choir and was involved with the women's group. The family later transferred to St. John's Lutheran Church in Le Mars. She was again involved with the women's group, Altar Guild and quilting. She volunteered a great deal of time with the community. She delivered Meals on Wheels and spent time at Brentwood Good Samaritan Center. The couple enjoyed gardening.

She will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Bennie of Le Mars; a son and his wife, Stan and Marlene of Sioux City; two daughters, Diane Bainter and Susan Ahrendt, both of Sioux City; three grandchildren and their spouses, Brian Ahrendt and Debra Bengtson-Ahrendt of Bloomington, Ill., Bruce and Cinthia Ahrendt of Miami, Fla., and Molly and Damien Taylor of Sioux City; four great-grandchildren, Jesse Bengtson-Ahrendt, David Bengtson-Ahrendt, Christopher Ahrendt and Sabrina Taylor; two brothers and their wives, Herman and Helen Schulz and Melvin and Virginia Schulz, all of Le Mars; a sister, Arlene McHale of Craig; and two sisters-in-law, Mildred Schulz and Rieka Otto, both of Le Mars.

She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant son, Wesley; a sister, Helen Hartman; and a brother, Kenneth Schulz.

[Part of the Darrell Easton Obituary Collection; source: Sioux City Journal]