Gladys Fahlgren Baker

Gladys Fahlgren Baker went home to be with her Lord on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

She was born on September 14, 1929, to Alfred and Alma Asleson in Fountain, Minn.  She was the youngest of eight children and the only daughter. Gladi grew up on the family farm, learning to drive the tractor at age 10. After attending the one room schoolhouse just up the hill, she entered Chatfield High School in ninth grade.  There, Gladi, the Norwegian farmer’s daughter, met her soul mate, John Fahlgren, the Swedish shoemaker’s son. They played together in the “Copy Cats” ensemble with Gladi on vocals, piano and drums and John on the clarinet.  They also loved to dance to the big bands.  Always excelling in school, she was co-valedictorian of her graduating class. She attended Winona Teacher’s College, earning her teacher’s degree and then taught third grade. Gladi married John in 1950, and together they had four children. After John earned his mechanical engineering degree at University of Minnesota, Gladi and John moved to Michigan in 1951, finally settling in Ann Arbor.  As a family they travelled together, camping all over the United States.  Gladi encouraged her children to be active in music and athletics and was always in the stands cheering for them. 

In 1971, Gladi, John and family moved to Australia when John was appointed Chief Engineer for Chrysler Australia.  Upon John’s untimely death in 1972, Gladi returned to Ann Arbor, and true to her amazing faith and indomitable spirit, forged a new life for herself and her family. She worked for many years at Great Lakes Bank – then TCF. Her presence at the information desk became the cheerful, welcoming face in the bank’s lobby. She continued her participation, volunteering and dedication to the First United Methodist Church. She also volunteered for the United Way and Pulmonary Fibrosis Research (which took her life as well as many of her brothers and their children).

Gladi was an avid and artistic gardener, with an energy – even in her late 80’s – that was the envy of the entire neighborhood.  She and her lawn mower were a frequent sight on a summer day. She was no stranger to long, hard work, which characterized her life in all aspects, working from sun-up until way past sundown.

Gladi loved to sing, play the organ, and most of all dance. Often, she reported that she had enjoyed dancing while doing her household work. For many years her dance partner was her longtime friend Altan Balta, whom she knew while both were serving on the board of the Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association. He gradually became included in all the Fahlgren family get-togethers for many years.  Gladi, always poised and beautiful, enjoyed modeling at Jacobson’s Department Store and took great pride in her fashion sense.  Her beautiful handwriting was known to all… she really enjoyed sending and receiving cards of love, humor and support. 

In 2001, at the ages of 70 and 75, Gladi married Clifford Baker. They knew each for many years prior through their daughters’ friendship. They enjoyed 16 cherished years together at their homes in Ann Arbor, Mich., and Heritage Palms in Fort Myers, Fla.  They were a very active and outgoing couple and especially loved socializing with friends and family and promoting the family brand “Martini Golf Tee.”

All who knew Gladi felt blessed by her upbeat, faith-filled, positive outlook on life and were thankful for her ability to cheer them up and make them feel special.  Gladi embraced all faiths, shared her strength with anyone in need, and offered hope and inspiration to many.  May her memory be eternal.

Gladi is survived by her four children: Donald (Rosemary) Fahlgren, MaryAnn (Bob) Maziasz), Robert (Jessica) Fahlgren, and Jane (Bob) Grambo); two step-children, Beth (Ken) Misener and David (Brooke) Baker; 20 grandchildren: Rachel (John) Bickford, James Maziasz, David Maziasz; Bradley Fahlgren, Kimberly Grambo (Christopher Crawford); Megan Grambo, Steve Sharpe, Stacey (Scot) Mollison, Julia Daher (Katie Horvath), Margaret Daher (Ben Welch), Matthew Daher, Melissa (Jeff) Holland, Robert Misener, and Jack Baker; eight great-grandchildren: Sarah, Luke, Benjamin Bickford; Mackenzie, Mitchell Mollison; Zoey Sharpe; Max Holland; and Freya Welch.  Many, many beloved nieces and nephews.

Gladi is also survived by Larry Van Lare, her dear friend for many years, whose love and care for her in her final years will be cherished and remembered by her family always.

Gladi was predeceased by her husband, John Fahlgren; her second husband, Clifford Baker; her parents, and seven brothers: Arnim, Edne, Ilot, Marvin, Kenneth, Victor and Duane; her daughter-in-law Christina Chapandy Fahlgren. 

Gladys was laid to rest next to her husband John, on Tuesday March 24, 2020.  A memorial will follow later in the year.

Her family would like to thank the people at her new home at Silver Maples and staff at Chelsea St. Joseph Mercy Hospital for their exceptional, dedicated and loving care for Gladi.  They went way beyond duty to make Gladi’s last six months more pleasant, comfortable, and unknowingly, giving back some of the love and care that Gladi, herself, offered to others.

Memorials may be made to Root Prairie Lutheran Church, Fountain, Minn.; First United Methodist Church, Ann Arbor, Mich.; and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio Street, Suite 500 Chicago, Ill. 60611 or go to pulmonaryfibrosis.org.

You are invited to remember Gladi by viewing the album of her life in photos at niefuneralhomes.com  and  legacy.com.