BOWERS, Gladys A. 1906-2004

BOWERS

Posted By: Jeannine Peterson (email)
Date: 7/19/2016 at 19:12:38

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

Funeral services were held on Wednesday at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Grafton, with the Rev. Wayne Ellingson officiating. Graveside services were Wednesday at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City.

Gladys was born November 6, 1906, in rural Nora Springs, 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, IA.

Gladys married Elmer Bowers on December 1, 1925, at the Little Brown Church, Nashua, IA. 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 State 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, IA.

Gladys will be sadly missed by her three children: Clarice (Jack) Venechuk, of Grafton, Bud (Colleen) Bowers, of Gilbert, AZ, and Joy (Jerry) Buechele, of Grafton; seven grandchildren, Cindy (Gene) Retterath, of Grafton, Sam (Shelly) Venechuk, of Northwood, Tracey (Mike) Fossey, of St. Ansgar, Pam (Shaun) Symond, of Flag Staff, AZ, Rick Bowers, of Phoenix, AZ, Andy (Lisa) Buechele, of Grafton, and Sara (Steve) Morooney, of Vista, CA; her 14 great-grandchildren, Katie Jo Venechuk, Samuel Venechuk, Nicole Venechuk, Billy Retterath, Bob Retterath, Ben Retterath, Will Fossey, Tom Fossey, Brianne Fossey, Cody Thompson, Logan Bowers, Hayley Buechele, Dylan Buechele 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.

Mason City Globe Gazette