Gladys Eleanor Hotze

Gladys Hotze, 87, of Macedonia, IA passed away May 11, 2017 at the Oakland Manor in Oakland, IA.

FUNERAL SERVICE - 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Carson, IA.

VISITATION - 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., (two hour prior to the service), Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at the funeral home.

MEMORIALS - Carson Presbyterian Church or Macedonia Volunteer Fire Department.

Gladys Eleanor Hotze, one of two children of Ethel Abigail (Johnson) and Elven Oscar Johnson, was born on April 28, 1930, at the Bishop's Home in Red Oak, Iowa. (At that time all babies were born there.) She was baptized at the Fremont Lutheran Church in Nyman, Iowa and confirmed at the Mission Covenant Church in Red Oak. Gladys attended Cramer Country School and schools in Nyman and Stanton, Iowa, before graduating from Red Oak High School in 1949. She attended Red Oak Junior College for one year and began working at Northwestern Bell.

Gladys exchanged letters with Robert Hotze of Carson, Iowa while he served in the Army and stationed in Korea. When Robert was discharged in November 1952, Gladys was there to meet him upon his arrival.

Gladys and Robert Lewis Hotze were married on March 29, 1954 at the Mission Covenant Church in Red Oak. They made their home and began farming on a farm Robert's parents had purchased while he was stationed overseas. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Keith Robert and Karen Marie.

Gladys was a member of the Carson Presbyterian Church and the Sigma Gama Club. She enjoyed traveling with Robert, singing and working on genealogy.

Gladys and Robert were married 60 years when Robert died on February 10, 2015.

Gladys passed away at the Oakland Manor in Oakland, IA, on May 11, 2017, at the age of 87 years and 13 days. In addition to her husband, she was also preceded in death by her parents; infant brother Keith Elven Johnson; and sister-in-law Eloise Hotze; and brother-in-law Richard "Dick" Beyrer and wife Loretta.

Gladys is survived by her son Keith Hotze and wife Deb of Macedonia; daughter Karen Hotze of Carson; three grandsons, John Hotze of Malvern, IA, Steve Hotze and wife Jenna of Council Bluffs, IA, and Craig Hotze (Emily Page) of Carson; great grandson Michael John Hotze; other relatives; and several special friends.