Gladys Kirkman

Gladys Kirkman, 88, died Tuesday, December 13, 2011, at The Life Center on Polk Blvd. Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, December 17, 2011, at Berwick Congregational Church, 5673 NE Berwick Drive, with burial at Greenwood Friends Cemetery in Ankeny. The family will receive friends between 5 and 7 p.m. Friday, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue.

Gladys was born September 3, 1923, in Des Moines, to John and Rose (Crosby) Schlenker, and grew up on the family farm with a strong sense of family, faith, community and a deep connection with nature.

She was a member of 4H, taught Sunday school and was active in the Berwick Church Ladies’ Club for years. Gladys helped supplement her family’s income by working as a secretary, retiring from Little Giant Crane and Shovel. She loved flower gardening, bird watching and good music. Her home cooking and baking was legendary. And she was a wonderfully loving mother and wife.

But it was Gladys’ kind compassion, intelligence, positive outlook, and sharp sense of humor that is her legacy. She touched many hearts during her lifetime and those lucky enough to know her are better for it.

Gladys was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Everett and leaves behind her sons, Kevin and Grover (Linda); granddaughters, Andrea and Kyra Christine; brothers Ralph and Larry Schlenker as well as several nephews and nieces.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of Gladys. Her family would like to express their sincere thanks to the staff at The Life Center, and Bickford Cottage, Urbandale, for the loving care and attention they showed Gladys during her final years.

www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

Print