Gladys Leona Schwenneker

Gladys Leona Schwenneker, the daughter of John Henry and Anna Marie Dorthea Anderson Hocamp, was born July 23, 1914, at her parents home in Audubon Township, Audubon County southeast of Exira, Iowa and died November 3, 2010, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 96 years, 3 months, and 10 days.
Gladys was baptized and confirmed at St. Johns Lutheran Church southeast of Exira. She attended rural school in Audubon Township then helped at home and worked for neighbors.
On February 7, 1942, she was united in marriage to Lawrence H. Schwenneker at the St. Johns Lutheran Church Parsonage west of Adair, Iowa. Five children were born to this union. They operated the family farm where they raised all types of livestock and grew grain. Gladys enjoyed raising chickens and selling the eggs. They operated the farm until they retired. Lawrence died October 27, 1986. Gladys continued to live on the farm until she moved to the Exira Care Center in Exira on August 22, 2007.
Gladys was a life long member of St. Johns Lutheran Church and was a member of the Church Women Circle. She was a member of the Garden Club and the Friendly Club. Gladys enjoyed gardening and playing pinochle with the grandchildren. She loved to bake and enjoyed having company, but most of all she enjoyed being with her family.
Gladys was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence H. Schwenneker; her sons: Clark Schwenneker, Gail Schwenneker, and Dallas Schwenneker; her son-in-law Jerry Arn; her great grandson Tucker Thomas Bates; her parents; and her brothers George and wife Kate Hocamp and Glen and wife Norine Hocamp.
Survivors include her daughters Shirley Arn of Denison, Iowa and Sharon and husband Joe Cline of Guthrie Center, Iowa; her grandchildren Larry Arn of Ames, Iowa, Jeffrey Arn, Jason Arn, Lori and husband Mike Wight all of Denison, Kristi and husband Tim Herbst of Harlan, Iowa, Staci and husband Jim Neumann of Denison, Matt Cline of Guthrie Center, Brad and wife Kathy Schwenneker of Princeton, Missouri, Travis and wife Heather Schwenneker of Davenport, Iowa, Tim and wife Kristen Schwenneker of Spencer, Iowa, Sydney and husband Jim Henderson of Panora, Iowa, Randi and husband Ben Wagner of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, Kelli and husband Travis Ruth of Orient, Iowa, and Traci and husband Tom Bates of Bayard, Iowa; 22 great grandchildren; her daughters-in-law Peggy Schwennker of Menlo, Iowa, Barb Schwenneker of Davenport, Iowa; a special friend Barb Hansen of Audubon, Iowa, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery west of St Johns Church.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends on Friday evening, November 5, 2010, at 6:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Timothy J. Fitzner on Saturday, November 6, 2010, at 2:00 P.M. at St. Johns Lutheran Church southeast of Exira, Iowa.