Gladys Cunningham

Gladys Cunningham, 97, of Atlantic passed away Monday, June 24, 2013 at the Heritage House, Atlantic, Iowa, where she had resided since March of this year.

Gladys G. Schuler was born March 4, 1916, to Fred W. and Mary (Pelzer) Schuler in Noble Township, Cass County, Iowa. She attended rural school and later attended Atlantic High School where she graduated in 1933. Gladys worked in Atlantic for a number of years. She was later employed as Secretary to the Cass County State Representative at the State Capitol in Des Moines for two legislative sessions. Gladys spent three years with the State Department of Public Instruction.

Gladys and Wallace Cunningham were united in marriage on March 13, 1943. Following their marriage the couple returned to the Atlantic area, where she was employed at the Cass County Court House as secretary for the Cass County Superintendent of Schools and later worked for the 4-county Special Education Dept.

After the death of her husband, Wallace on March 21, 1963, at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, Gladys continued her career as Secretary-Receptionist at the Atlantic State Bank for 15 years. The Iowa Firemen's Association also benefited from her clerical skills for many years. She was a member of SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic, CCW and BPO Does.

Even though Gladys was never blessed with children of her own, she often referred to her nieces and nephews as "her kids". Gladys welcomed them into her home and spent a good share of her vacation time entertaining them with trips to the Cass County Fair (a big outing for kids in the 1950s), shopping trips to Omaha on the bus or train and overnight stays in her home. She enjoyed many craft projects and was extremely generous with the fruits of her labor. She made lovely afghans for every niece and nephew as well as her grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Gladys was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace; her parents, Fred and Mary Schuler; two brothers and sisters-in law, Roger and Betty Schuler and Royal and Fern Schuler as well as one sister and brother-in law, Genevieve and Morris Weaver.

Survivors include five nephew, Davy and Brenda Weaver of Maple Grove, MN, Darl Weaver of West Des Moines, Dell Weaver and Janet Weaver, Daniel and Joy Weaver all of Griswold and Todd Schuler of Atlantic; two nieces, Terrie and Steve Riggs of Atlantic and Kay and Harlan Cary of Griswold. Her survivors also include 21 great- nieces and great- nephews as well as 38 great-great nieces and nephews. Cunningham family survivors include nieces, Pam Cunningham, Marilyn Gould and Susan Adolf as well as 6 great nieces and nephews. Also surviving Gladys is her dear friend, Virginia Wernimont, who faithfully served her the sacrament of Holy Communion each week for many years.



Funeral services will be held Monday, July 1, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic, followed by burial in the SS Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Atlantic.