Obituary for Velma Merle Gladhill
Velma Merle Gladhill, 79, of Clinton, Iowa, passed away at the Alverno Healthcare Facility on Wednesday, August 17, 2022. Honoring her wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service takes place at 1 pm on September 10, at Lemke Funeral Homes — South Chapel. A visitation occurs one hour prior from 12 pm until the service hour at the funeral home. Private burial takes place at a later date. Lemke Funeral Homes assisted the family with arrangements.
Velma was born on November 8, 1942 in Clinton, Iowa. She was the oldest daughter of Merle (Tubby) and Celia (Bender) Gladhill.
Velma was educated in Lyons grade school and junior high. She graduated from Clinton High School in 1961, where she was a member of the national honors society. Velma was a girl scout for many years as well as Rainbow Girls and many other clubs.
Velma attended the University of Iowa and graduated in 1965 with a degree in speech therapy. She later continued her education earning three master’s degrees in the education field.
She began her teaching career in Chicago where she met life-long friends Barry and her family, Norm and Phyllis and children Dan and Nicole (her goddaughter).
Velma also taught in Houston, Texas before moving to her forever home in San Francisco, California. There she taught special education and community outreach work in the California school system and also at the private school John Muir. In her retirement she did private tutoring and assessment programing and testing.
She loved Mexican and Indian art, traveling, current events, and television. Velma was generous, compassionate and good company. She was also a cut throat game player, a democrat, and known for her really mean spinach dip.
She will be remembered by all she met as intelligent, loyal and spunky with a special style. A small round ball of energy who could really light things up. She wore beautiful cloths with hair to match. Just the leary of Velmeeta!
Survivors include her cousins — Joyce (Stan) Johnson of Appleton, Wisconsin, Judy McGilvrey of Cook Minnesota and Pat (Jim) Lynch of Grundy Center, Iowa; her many close friends from Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Clinton and her very special and spoiled fur baby Arlo.
She was proceeded in death by her parents and her little sister Barbie.
Velma was born on November 8, 1942 in Clinton, Iowa. She was the oldest daughter of Merle (Tubby) and Celia (Bender) Gladhill.
Velma was educated in Lyons grade school and junior high. She graduated from Clinton High School in 1961, where she was a member of the national honors society. Velma was a girl scout for many years as well as Rainbow Girls and many other clubs.
Velma attended the University of Iowa and graduated in 1965 with a degree in speech therapy. She later continued her education earning three master’s degrees in the education field.
She began her teaching career in Chicago where she met life-long friends Barry and her family, Norm and Phyllis and children Dan and Nicole (her goddaughter).
Velma also taught in Houston, Texas before moving to her forever home in San Francisco, California. There she taught special education and community outreach work in the California school system and also at the private school John Muir. In her retirement she did private tutoring and assessment programing and testing.
She loved Mexican and Indian art, traveling, current events, and television. Velma was generous, compassionate and good company. She was also a cut throat game player, a democrat, and known for her really mean spinach dip.
She will be remembered by all she met as intelligent, loyal and spunky with a special style. A small round ball of energy who could really light things up. She wore beautiful cloths with hair to match. Just the leary of Velmeeta!
Survivors include her cousins — Joyce (Stan) Johnson of Appleton, Wisconsin, Judy McGilvrey of Cook Minnesota and Pat (Jim) Lynch of Grundy Center, Iowa; her many close friends from Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Clinton and her very special and spoiled fur baby Arlo.
She was proceeded in death by her parents and her little sister Barbie.