Gladys Eckert

Gladys Doris Eckert, one of nine children of Mary Emma (Deitchler) and Carl Ferdinand Mass, was born in Mineola, IA on October 2, 1927. Gladys grew up in Mills County, attending country school in Mineola and Silver City. Gladys and her sister Maryann moved to an apartment in Council Bluffs, IA and Gladys attended high school at Abraham Lincoln. Following school, Gladys worked as a waitress in Council Bluffs. In 1945, Gladys was confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Council Bluffs.
In 1946, Gladys and Leonard Slusher were married. They made their home in Council Bluffs and were blessed with their daughter Judie. In 1948, Gladys and Judie moved to Carson, IA, where they lived with Gladys's parents.
On August 27, 1949, Gladys and John Lloyd Eckert were married in Papillion, NE. They made their home in Carson and were blessed with daughters, Susie and Sandi. John and Gladys owned and operated the Knotty Pine Bar in Carson for many years. After selling the bar, Gladys worked at the Carson Medical Center as an assistant to Dr. Angel. She later enjoyed her time working with the young children of the area at Lorraine Shald's Day Care. Gladys and John were members of the Carson Presbyterian Church where Gladys had served as an elder and trustee. They enjoyed their family gatherings and among Gladys's enjoyments were baking. Gladys and John had been married 38 years when John died on July 24, 1987. Gladys continued to live at her home in Carson and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. On July 4, 1994, Gladys and Bob Crowder accompanied one another to the Independence Day Celebration in Oakland, Iowa. They remained close friends from then on and enjoyed traveling, dining, camping, mushroom hunting, and an occasional canoe trip. In 2004, Gladys developed complications following surgery for a brain tumor and slowly her health began to fail. In July she moved to the Oakland Manor Care Center in Oakland, IA. Gladys died at the Manor on February 16, 2005 at the age of 77 years, 4 months, and 14 days. Gladys was preceded in death by her parents; husband John Eckert; brothers Ralph Mass, Roy Mass and Ervin Mass; sisters Ethel Neilsen and Katy Kemp; stepsons Gary Eckert and Rick Eckert and step-grandson Johnnie Eckert.
Gladys is survived by her close friend and companion Bob Crowder of Carson; daughters Judie Boruff and her husband Michael (Mick) of Oakland, Susie Pilling and her husband Larry of Macedonia, IA, and Sandi Sowers and her husband Michael of Carson; brother Robert Mass and sisters Maryann Campbell and Norma Marr all of Council Bluffs; 12 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and one great great granddaughter; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.