Gloria J. Luedtke, 87, of the Town of Belle Plaine, passed away Wednesday, June 26, 2019, at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center, Appleton.
Gloria Joan Horst Luedtke was born Sept. 2, 1931, in Hartford to Alfred Conrad Horst and Hertha Westphal Horst. She was the youngest of eight children, all of whom predeceased her. She passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 26, 2019.
Gloria was courted by Floyd Palmer Luedtke after meeting at a dance, and they were married on Sept. 3, 1949. He predeceased her on Oct. 12, 2014. They had eight children, Allen (Sherri), Dennis (Julianne), Pamela (Hank) Lorenz, Sandra, Russell (deceased), Rick (Carol), Angela (Don) Barnes, and Michael (Mary Beth). A niece, Betty Stiefel, was like a fourth daughter to her. Gloria is further survived by 23 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren.
Gloria attended high school in Hartford and was her class valedictorian, active in intramurals, glee club and was prom queen. Gloria had a tremendous spirit, was outgoing and social, hardworking, stubborn, generous and caring; qualities she shared with Floyd and that made them a perfect match. She and Floyd loved to dance, winning many competitions, even appearing on the Lawrence Welk show. During their years of marriage they loved to entertain countless friends and play sheepshead and bridge.
Early on, they farmed in Dodge County. In 1967, they purchased the Golden Night Supper Club in West Bend before returning to farming in the Embarrass and Shawano areas in 1974. During this time, Gloria was a school board member, homemaker’s group president, and employed part time doing USDA crop surveys, and later driving for Shawano County Office on Aging, all of this while raising eight children. Eventually they built a log cabin in the woods in Shawano, which sadly burned in 2014. Her beloved Floyd’s death soon followed. While living in Embarrass and Shawano, Floyd and Gloria were devoted members of St. Martin’s Lutheran Church-Belle Plaine, where Gloria was active in the choir. From 2014 until her passing, Gloria was a resident at Pine Manor (nka The Pines) in Embarrass.
Gloria, a farmer to the core, was connected to nature and enjoyed gardening. She loved all animals including the birds and deer that lived near the house, the dogs that immediately took to her when they came to visit with family and friends, and a very special cat that survived the house fire. Most of all, Gloria was our loving and devoted mom and grandma. She loved to read to all children, not just her own, and they would climb in bed with the books they picked, often staying there for hours. Grandchildren lucky enough to be there on Saturday mornings were treated to her serenading the birds until everyone awoke, and her famous homemade pancakes with real maple syrup. She was also famous for her cookies; the jar was never empty and she often mailed cookie packages to loved ones. In the evenings you might find her sipping a brandy old fashioned sweet with a wedge of orange, watching the Wheel of Fortune.
Gloria loved to socialize. Everyone was welcome at her home – anytime day or night. As Alzheimer’s took hold, her phone became her lifeline. She would call family members and friends sometimes five times a day or many more. Her record month was 1,700 minutes. Her wonderful sense of humor and common sense, which she instilled in her children, served her well. She didn’t sweat the small stuff. Until her death, she tried hard to remember the names of all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren when she saw their pictures.
Gloria will always be remembered for her love of life, being feisty and determined, toughness during times of trouble, her cheerfulness, beautiful smile, and most of all her contagious giggles and laugh. We are comforted to know Gloria has reunited in eternity with Floyd in heaven, an even better place now with her there.
Funeral service will be held on Monday, July 1 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church-Belle Plaine. The Rev. Kurt D. Kluge will officiate and burial will follow in the parish cemetery. Friends may call on Sunday from 3-6 p.m. at the Beil-Didier Funeral Home in Clintonville, and on Monday from 9:30 a.m. until time of service at the church.
Donations in Gloria’s honor may be made to Shawano County Humane Society, 1290 Jaycee Court, Shawano, WI 54166; or to St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, W8302 Belle Plaine Ave., Shawano, WI 54166.