GLADYS SERENE LINDERMAN

GEDCOM Note

GREAT AUNT GLADYS LINDERMAN NELSON WAS THE STRONG, DOMINANT WOMAN IN THE NELSON FAMILY. SHE LIVED FROM JAN. 1941-1968 WITH HER FATHER, EDWARD LINDERMAN, A WIDOWER, AT 705 W. THIRD STREET, IN DUBUQUE, DUBUQUE COUNTY, IOWA. MY FAVORITE MEMORY OF AUNT GLADYS WAS HOW SHE ALWAYS REMEMBERED ALL THE CHILDREN'S BIRTHDAYS IN THE FAMILY EVERY YEAR. IT WASN'T MUCH, SHE COULDN'T AFFORD VERY MUCH. IT WAS THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTED. I REMEMBER AT FIRST SHE WOULD SEND US A DIME, AND AS WE GOT OLDER SHE STARTED SENDING US QUARTERS. EVERY YEAR I LOOKED FORWARD TO RECEIVING HER BIRTHDAY CARDS, FROM THIS GREAT AUNT WHO LIVED WAY OFF IN DUBUQUE, IOWA. I THOUGHT IT WAS SO NEAT TO RECEIVE SOMETHING FROM A RELATIVE THAT I HARDLY KNEW.

MY MOTHER, JEAN LINDERMAN MANCILL, MY STEP DAD, LOUIS MANCILL, AND MY BROTHER, KARL FREDERICK, MY COUSIN, REBECCA COOKE, AND ME, SALLY FREDERICK, ALL TOOK A TRIP TOGETHER IN 1970 TO ARKANSAS, KANSAS, ILLINOIS, AND IOWA. IT WAS A GREAT TRIP. ME, KARL, AND REBECCA SLEPT IN THE ATTIC. AT FIRST, WE THOUGHT IT WAS A FUN IDEA. WHEN I HEARD THE STAIRS CREAK I COULD IMAGINE SOMEONE COMING UP THE STAIRS TO GET US. I GOT SCARED. OF COURSE, I PRETENDED THAT I WASN'T. KARL THOUGHT IT WAS NEAT, AND MADE JOKES AND TRIED TO SCARE US MORE. WHICH HE DID A GOOD JOB OF, BUT HE EVEN SCARED HIMSELF. I THINK WE WENT CRYING DOWNSTAIRS TO MOMA AND LOU THAT WE KEPT HEARING THINGS. THE ADULTS ASSURED US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE SCARED OF, AND TO GO TO SLEEP. WE HAD FUN THOUGH. THEY DID ALLOW US TO LEAVE A NIGHT LIGHT ON THOUGH.