Gloria Henze

Gloria D. Henze, 79, of Dike, Iowa, passed away on Friday, October 25, 2019 at Parkview Manor in Reinbeck, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Monday, October 28, 2019 at the Abels Funeral and Cremation Service, Engelkes Chapel, Grundy Center. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at the American Lutheran Church in Grundy Center. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Grundy Center. Memorials may be directed to the family. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.abelsfuneralhomes.com

Gloria was born on November 22, 1939 in Reinbeck, Iowa, to her loving parents Christel and Louise (Abling) Thesing. She was raised in rural Reinbeck and was baptized on February 3, 1944 in her parent’s home. Gloria graduated from Reinbeck High School on May 23, 1958. On August 20, 1959 she graduated from Gates Business College in Waterloo, Iowa. She worked for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company from 1959 until 1962. Gloria was united in marriage to Ferdinand “Bud” Henze on January 26, 1962 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Reinbeck. Together they welcomed their son Steve and their daughter Joan into their family.

Gloria was an active member of the Salem Lutheran Church in Parkersburg, Iowa from 1962 until 1976. She then became a member of the American Lutheran Church in Grundy Center. Gloria loved to garden, fish and she raised chickens and turkeys.

Gloria is survived by her husband Bud Henze; her children Steve (Michele) Henze and Joan (Russell) Meester; grandchildren Emma Henze, Krystal & Owen Meester; sisters-in-law Carolyn Thesing, Theone Andreessen, Erma Henze; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Charles Thesing.