Gladys Carlson

Gladys L. Carlson, 79, a lifelong Anita, Iowa, resident, passed way Saturday, October 13, 2007, at the Colonial Manor in Anita.

Gladys Louisa Carlson, was born August 19, 1928, in Anita, Iowa, the daughter of Lawrence H. and Leona M. (Witte) Carlson.

She attended school in Anita and graduated from Anita High School in 1947. After graduation Gladys worked as a telephone operator for Western Iowa Telephone Company, and later she worked as a cashier at the former Ben Franklin Store in Atlantic. On June 5, 1957, she began managing the Bonnesen's Variety Store in Anita. Her work record also included Magective Venetian Blind, Gordon Electric, and owning the Western Auto Store in Anita. Gladys also worked for the Fullerton Lumber Company in Atlantic. She also held several part-time jobs including Casey's, RGIS, Job Service of Iowa, Anthony's Department Store and Gambles in Atlantic. Gladys retired in 1999 from the Culligan Soft Water Company in Atlantic.

Gladys was a former member of the Church of Christ in Anita, where she
was active as a Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendant a well as a lay-leader.

Gladys's church and family were the most important parts of her life. She lived for her family and loved to spend time with her nieces, grandnieces, and nephews in projects for the 4-H club. She was an excellent seamstress and loved to sew and embroider.

She is survived by brothers, Marvin Carlson and his wife, Betty of Long Grove, Iowa, and Darrell Carlson and his wife, Linda of Atlantic, Iowa; sisters, Phyllis Aupperle and her husband, Raymond of Cumberland, Iowa, and Donna Carlson of Greencastle, Pennsylvania; sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Carlson of Ogden, Iowa; aunt, Irene Witte of Crescent, Iowa; uncle, Donald Witte and his wife, Barb of Atlantic, Iowa; a number of nieces, nephews, cousins; and great nieces and nephews; as well as great-great nieces and nephews.
Gladys is preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Leona Carlson; brother, Gaile Carlson; and great nephew, Matthew Carlson.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 16, 2007, at the Hockenberry-Mullen Funeral Home in Anita. The Reverend Dick Krambeck of Pine Grove Methodist Church will be officiating.

Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita.

Visitation will be from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, October 15, 2007, at the Hockenberry-Mullen Funeral Home in Anita, with the family present to greet friends from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

A fellowship and luncheon will be held at the Anita Community Center, following the cemetery services.

Hockenberry-Mullen Funeral Home in Anita is in charge of the arrangements.