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Gladys Arends was born September 16, 1939, in Hospers, Iowa to Louis and Tena Uittenbogaard Kroon. She grew up in Hospers and graduated from Hospers High School in 1956. On December 15, 1959, she and Robert “Bob” Arends were married at Hospers.
Following their marriage, they made their home in Sheldon, IA until 1968 when they moved to Slayton, MN. Gladys worked at the Slayton Bakery and later at Ben Franklin. Gladys started her own daycare business in the early 1980’s and became known as “Grandma Gladys” to numerous little ones in Slayton area. In 1996, they moved to Sioux Falls, SD and in 2012 they returned to Slayton to be near family. Gladys worked at Fey Industry in Edgerton until her retirement in 2016. Bob passed away on April 23, 2016. In 2017 Gladys became a resident of the Slayton Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Slayton. Due to it closing, she moved to Crossroads Care Center in Worthington, MN and in 2020 she moved to Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, MN.
Gladys passed away on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at the Sanford Luverne Hospital in Luverne, MN at the age of 83. She was a member of the First Reformed Church in Slayton. Gladys enjoyed taking walks around town, traveling, time at the lake, and trucking with Bob. She will be remembered for strong faith, warm and inviting personality and her infectious smile.
Survivors include her two daughters, Vicki Crowley of Iona, MN, and Diane Guth of South Lake Tahoe, CA, four grandchildren Bobbi and Mike Schoolmeester, Mark Crowley, Naomi Turner, and Heather Dominquez, six great-grandchildren, Austin and Emma Schoolmeester, Addison Speckmier, Deanna and Laina Crowley and Danny Schell, two siblings, John and Lila Kroon of Washington State, and two sisters-in-law, Barb Theis of Iowa and Shirley Arends of Iowa. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Bob, son, Richard “Butch” Arends, son-in-law, Neal “Vern” Crowley, brother, Larry Kroon, and brother-in-law, Wayne Arends.
Memorial services were held at the First Reformed Church in Slayton, MN on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Aaron Punt officiating. The organist was Joan Friese. The honorary pallbearers were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Interment was at Slayton Memorial Gardens in Slayton, MN.
Visitation was one hour prior to the services at the church on Wednesday. Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton was entrusted with arrangements. To send condolences, visit totzkefuneralhome. com.
