Gladys Swehla, 92, Wells

Published 10:16 am Thursday, September 8, 2011

Gladys Swehla, 92, of Wells, died Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011, at Parkview Care Center in Wells. A mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Casimir Catholic Church in Wells. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Friday with a prayer service at 8 p.m. at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. The Rev. Thomas Niehaus will officiate and burial will take place in St. Casimir Catholic Cemetery in Wells. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is in charge of arrangements.

Swehla

Gladys Swehla was born April 9, 1919, the daughter of Edward and Alvina (Gabriel) Grunzke on the family farm in Dunbar Township, Faribault County. She married Willis Swehla on Jan. 17, 1939, in Albert Lea. Gladys and Willis farmed in the Alden and Wells area, moving into Wells in 1976. Gladys always loved preparing and serving food. Even as a young girl doing all the school lunches for her siblings. Gladys was well known for her catering services for many weddings and special events. For many years, she was in charge of St. Casimir school lunch program and also took care of the canteen at the local Del Monte canning factory. Gladys was an active member in the local Farmer’s Union and DFL party. She was a member of St. Casimir Catholic Church in Wells. She enjoyed sewing and her favorite pastimes were playing cards and spending time with her family.

Gladys is survived by two sons: Dennis (wife Linda) Swehla of Easton and Steve (wife Jane) Swehla of Wells; seven grandchildren: Tina (husband Jeff) Cole, Mike (wife Jill) Swehla, all of Winnebago, Kevin (wife Lindsay) Swehla of Eden Prairie, Kari (Bryan) Schaper of Blue Earth; Chad (Angie) Swehla, of Wells, Diane (Matt) Andresen of Woodbury and Brad Swehla (special friend Sarah Scholin) of Roseville; 11 great-grandchildren; brother, Dr. Marvin (Eunice) Grunzke of Montgomery, Albert Lea; sister-in-law: Helen Grunzke of Wells; along with many nieces and nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Willis in 2003; son, Allen, in 1966; sister, Mahalia (Putz) Young; and two brothers: Donald and Clarence Grunzke.