Gladys Kathleen Fisher

Gladys Kathleen Fisher was born on February 10, 1929 in rural Kalona of Johnson County, Iowa to Lewis and Barbara (Miller) Bender. She passed away June 1, 2016 at the Pleasantview Home in Kalona at the age of 87 years.
She married Robert Wayne Fisher on May 31, 1951 at East Union Mennonite Church, Kalona, IA.
Gladys lived in the Kalona/Wellman area for nearly all her lifetime. She spent 2 years in La Junta, CO as a LPN when her husband, Robert, was in voluntary service.
Gladys graduated the 12th grade at Hesston Academy, Hesston, KS; attended Teacher's College in Cedar Falls obtaining her teaching certificate and later, Goshen College to recertify for teaching. She taught in rural elementary schools for 5 ½ years. After teaching, she was a homemaker and did domestic labor.
Gladys was a member of Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church, teaching Sunday School and an active member in WMSC. She was also a member of Optimists, Farm Bureau, and past chairperson for Johnson County Farm Bureau Ladies.
Gladys's siblings are sisters Nina Bontrager Yoder, Kalona, IA; Mary Miller (Lloyd), Glendale, AZ; Vera Yoder, Wellman, IA; and brothers Clarence Bender (Freida), Kalona, IA; Paul Bender (Leona), Belleville, PA; Daniel Bender (Ora), Harrisonburg, VA.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, both her parents, sister Nina, brothers Clarence and Paul, and infant son. She is survived by her children: Marvin (Vicki), Wichita, KS; Grace Tully (Jim), Iowa City, IA; Sara Brown (Glenn), Iowa City, IA; Peggy Haines (John), Iowa City, IA, Ralph (Cindy), Wellman, IA; and Mary Anderson, Hiawatha, IA, plus eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, June 6, 2016 at the Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church in rural Kalona. Rev. Don Patterson will officiate. Burial will be in the East Union Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2-8 PM on Sunday at the Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona where the family will greet friends from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. A general memorial fund has been established.