Gladys Helen Thul

Gladys Helen (Jensen) Thul, one of four children of Jens and Hazel Jensen, was born on July 15, 1926, in Hawarden. Growing up, Gladys helped her father in his grocery store business and she graduated from Nemaha High School in 1943. After graduation, Gladys went to Iowa City where she worked as a nurse maid. She then entered Methodist Hospital, School of Nursing in Sioux City and received her R.N. degree in 1948, along with Cadet Nursing. Gladys worked at the Denison Hospital for one year during which Gladys went on a blind date Henry Thul and they dated for two years. On February 2; 1950, Gladys was united in marriage to Henry at the Nemaha Methodist Church parsonage. This union was blessed with two sons and four daughters: Paul, Dale, Barbara, Gloria, Marcia and Donna. In 1951, Gladys and her family moved to Storm Lake. She spent her time raising her family and caring for her household. After 12 years, Gladys returned to her nursing career at Methodist Manor and later Buena Vista Manor. She worked at the Alta Hospital and retired from there when the hospital closed in the late 1980s. Serving the Lord was very important to Gladys and she was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. She was active in the community through the Dorcas Quilting Circle, Mary and Martha Circle, TOPS, and Grace Lutheran Senior Citizen Group. Gladys also helped the community with serving Meals On Wheels. Gladys enjoyed many things in life including knitting, reading and collecting cookbooks and recipes. Caring for others brought her great joy and was something that came naturally to her. But, what she cherished most of all, was spending time with her family who loved her very much. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her and loved her. Gladys is survived by two sons: Paul Thul and his wife, Evelyn Raye of Beach Grove, Ark. and Dale Thul and his wife, Emily of Bosque Farms, N.M.; four daughters: Barbara Simonson and her husband, Stan of Linn Grove, Gloria Fletcher and her husband, Fred of Danbury, Marcia Williams and her husband, Bennie of Hope Mills, N.C. and Donna Garcia and her husband, Don of Albuquerque, N.M.; 19 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren and many other loving relatives and friends. Preceding Gladys in death were her parents, Jens and Hazel Jensen; step-father, William Alpers; husband, Henry Thul on December 18, 2002; grandson, John Jeremy; great grandson, Logan Clay Belcher; two sisters: Joyce Jackson and Betty Jean Hout and one brother, Raymond Jensen, who was stillborn.