Gladys VanLengen

Gladys V. VanLengen, 90 of Steamboat Rock, Iowa died from natural causes on Friday, October 10, 2008 at Mercy Medical Center in Mason City, Iowa. Funeral services will be at 10:30 am on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at the First Presbyterian Church in Steamboat Rock with Pastor Bruce Baillie officiating. Burial will follow at the Steamboat Rock Cemetery. Visitation is from 6 pm to 8 pm on Monday at Creps-Abels Funeral Home in Eldora, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church of Steamboat Rock.

Gladys was born December 16, 1917 on the family farm near Steamboat Rock, daughter of Reibke and Effie Freese. She attended country school and on February 18, 1938 Gladys was united in marriage to Ben H. VanLengen in Parkersburg, Iowa. They farmed near Steamboat Rock and Gladys remained busy raising their family of seven children, helping with the farm chores and milking cows. Gladys and Ben moved into Steamboat Rock in the mid 1980s and Ben died on March 31, 1989.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Steamboat Rock and her hobbies included quilting, collecting lighthouses, gardening, and watching the birds.

Surviving are her children, Judy (Ben) DeVries of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Roger (Gail) VanLengen of Alden, Craig (Lila) VanLengen of Flagstaff, Arizona, Janice (Steve) Eggleston of Eldora, Denise (Les) Peters of Eldora, and Renee (Chuck) Ingledue of Emmons, Minnesota; sisters, Ethel Rhodes of Grundy Center and Esther (Melvin) Purvis of Florida; brothers, Arthur Freese and Richard (Wilma) Freese all of Dike; and by 14 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; by her husband, Ben; son, Eugene; great granddaughter, Justice Berends; and by 8 brothers and sisters.