Gloria Jean Pfremmer, age 73, of Harmony, passed away February 5, 2020, at her home. A Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Thursday, February 13 at Nativity Catholic Church in Harmony. Friends may call on Thursday from 10 a.m. until time of services at the church. Lindstrom Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Gloria was born December 27, 1946, in Benson, Minn., to Harold and Shirley (Jones) Smith. She graduated from Minneapolis Vocational High School and Technical Institute in 1964, with a degree in Business. In 1963, she began working for Dayton’s in downtown Minneapolis, first in the sales audit department and then in the statistical department.
In 1966 she met Wayne in La Crosse, Wis. On May 6, 1967, they married at Ascension Catholic Church in North Minneapolis. They farmed in Harmony and Carrolton Townships. Over the years, Gloria worked at various businesses in Harmony including Harmony High School as payroll clerk, Harmony Livestock Sales, the Sugar Plum House and Kwik Trip, and most recently at the Amish Experience in Lanesboro. In between, being a stay-at-home mom to their three children.
Gloria was a member of Nativity Catholic Church in Harmony, being an active member of the NCCW as guild leader, secretary and president. She was on the Parish Council for several years and a religious education teacher for nine years. She was also a member of the Town and Country Homemakers Club, Harmony Helping Hands 4-H leader, and a longtime member of a “group” of very special friends. She was on an Olmsted Medical Center – Health Care Home Patient Advisory Team for several years, and also was a certified leader at meetings for a Chronic Disease Self-Management program.
Gloria thoroughly enjoyed being a mother of three, a granny of two, and great-granny (Gigi). Other interests included birdwatching, mowing (yes, mowing), cake decorating, reading, sitting by the fire inside and out, knitting and just enjoying nature’s beauty all around her. Especially enjoyable were the road trips with her best friend and husband of 52 years, Wayne.
Survivors include her husband Wayne, two sons, Curtis (Wendy) of Preston, Minn., Chris (Cindy) of Harmony, Minn., and one daughter, Stefanie Pfremmer and her significant other, Kenan Ward and his two boys Eddie and Kenan, of Viroqua, Wis.; two grandsons, Derek of Harmony and Nathan of Preston; one great-granddaughter, Sydney of Harmony; one sister, Wanita Milana of St. Louis Park, Minn.; one niece and four nephews, two great-nephews as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins.
She goes to join her father, her mother and her sister Dianna, who all preceded her in death.