Hartson, Gladys Emma (Rolfs) 1932 - 2020

HARTSON, ROLFS, KOSTMAN, FOSTER, FELDMANN, EDWARDS, KRUGER, CARNEY, HUDSON, KAUFMAN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:41

Gladys E. Hartson, age 87, of Decorah, Iowa, died Sunday, May 10, 2020 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Marys Campus in Rochester, MN.

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, a private family burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon, Iowa.

Gladys Emma (Rolfs) Hartson was born on August 27, 1932, at the family farm in Union Prairie Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, the fourth of eight children born to Walter and Emma (Kostman) Rolfs. Gladys attended country schools through eighth grade. She graduated from Waukon High School in 1951.

After graduation Gladys moved to Waterloo, Iowa, and worked as a key-punch operator at DX Sunray.

Gladys was united in marriage to Duane Ronald “Curly” Hartson on May 25, 1957 in Waukegan, Illinois. This union was blessed with two children, Michael Eugene and Dianna Marie.

Curly made a career in the Navy with the family living in Connecticut, Virginia, and Illinois. During this period Gladys was a stay at home mother. When Curly retired from the Navy in 1972, the family moved to Postville, Iowa, where Gladys worked as a bookkeeper at Gene’s Electric.

In 1980 Gladys and Curly moved to Waterloo, Iowa. During this period Gladys enjoyed her career as a proof consultant for Olan Mills. In 1996 they moved back to the Northeast Iowa, settling in Decorah, Iowa. Gladys went back to work in 1999 as a salesclerk at Donlon Pharmacy, retiring in 2012.

Gladys had a strong faith and attended various churches in many communities throughout her life. For the past several years Gladys attended Stone Ridge Community Church in Decorah, where she was an active member of Bible study groups.

Gladys enjoyed playing cards, shopping, and being with people. She was a member of the Red Hat Society, as well as various women’s clubs.

Gladys most enjoyed being a mother and grandmother, spending every chance she could with her grandchildren and then her great-grandchildren. Her favorite activity was to spend time with her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband “Curly” on August 29, 2009, her parents, great-grandson Michael Paul Hartson, her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Gladys is survived by her son Michael of Postville, IA; daughter Dianna (Robert) Foster of Monmouth, IA; four grandchildren: Aaron (Maria) Hartson of Newton, IA, Cahleen (Nate) Feldmann of Schaumburg, IL, Evonne (Mark) Edwards of Hudsonville, MI, and Noah (Sara) Hartson of Aplington, IA; seven great-grandchildren: Owen Hartson, Katelyn Feldmann, Laurelin and Alaina Edwards, and Adeline, James, and Abigail Hartson; sisters Marjorie (Emmett) Kruger of Postville, IA, Irene Carney of Fairfield, OH, Darlene Hudson of Red Wing, MN, and Janet Kaufman of Waukon, IA; brothers Donald (Phyllis) Rolfs of Red Wing, MN, Lloyd Rolfs of Lansing IA, and Charles (Lois) Rolfs of Waukon, IA; and brother-in-law Eugene Hartson of Waterloo, IA.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Stone Ridge Community Church, 1111 Montgomery St., Decorah, IA 52101; Shriners Hospitals for Children; the American Lung Association; or charity of your choice.

Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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