Obit: Florence, Gloria Mae (1927 - 2010) 
 

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Florence, Schwantes, Gehrke, Shidell, Dimler, Devonshire, Buttke, Hahn 
 

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) June 2, 2010 
 

Florence, Gloria Mae (8 September 1927 - 26 May 2010) 
 

Gloria Mae Florence, 82, Pittsville, died May 26, 2010, at St. Joseph’s Hospital Palliative Care in Marshfield.  
 

Gloria was born Sept. 8, 1927, in Clintonville, to Alfred and Esther (Schwantes) Gehrke.  She attended parochial elementary school in Clintonville and one year at Clintonville High School. She moved to Marshfield in 1942, graduating from Marshfield Senior High School in 1945. After graduation she was employed at Central Cheese Co. until her marriage. 
 

Gloria married George Florence, Jr. of Pittsville at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Marshfield Aug. 6, 1949. George preceded her in death March 6, 2004.  
 

They farmed in the town of Sherwood until 1983 when their son, Mark, bought the farm.  They then moved to a home west of the farm. 
 

Gloria worked as a secretary at Memorial Hospital in Neillsville from 1966 to 1989 when she retired.  She then spent time camping and enjoying her grandchildren. She also enjoyed spending winters in Arizona. 
 

Gloria was a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sherwood and its Ladies Aid and Sewing Club.  She belonged to the Marshlanders Good SAM Camping Club, the Order of the Eastern Star of Wisconsin Rapids and the American Legion Auxiliary of Neillsville. Gloria also volunteered at the Lions Club in Neillsville, Neillsville Memorial Nursing Home and Bethesda Thrift Shop in Wisconsin Rapids. 
 

She is survived by two sons, Gary (Tammy) Florence of Wisconsin Rapids and Mark (Susan) Florence of Pittsville; one daughter, Barbara (Tom) Shidell of Schofield; two granddaughters, Rose Florence of Neenah and Tasia Florence of Wisconsin Rapids; two grandsons, Mat Florence of Milwaukee and Dan Florence of Pittsville; one sister, Geraldine Florence of Abbotsford; one sister-in-law, Bertie Dimler of Fremont; and one very, very special friend and companion, Walter Devonshire of Wisconsin Rapids.  
 

Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Esther Gehrke; her husband, George Florence Jr. and one sister, Dorothy Buttke. 
 

Visitation was from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 29, 2010, at Buchanan Funeral Home, Pittsville, and from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the church.  An American Legion Auxiliary Service was held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, followed by an Eastern Star Service at 7:45 p.m. 
 

The family greatly appreciates the supportive staff at the St. Joseph’s Palliative Care Unit.