Gladys M. Paynter

Gladys Marjorie Paynter, age 97, formerly of Brooklyn, IA, passed away July 2, 2020, in Hopkins, MN, with her children at her side. Services are currently pending with Kloster Funeral Home in Brooklyn, Iowa.

Gladys was born December 14, 1922 to Mary and Albert Spading on the family farm in Madison Township, 6 miles north of Brooklyn. She attended rural school and graduated from Brooklyn High School in the Class of 1940. She then obtained a teaching certificate and taught in the rural schools around Brooklyn for 8 years. On May 25, 1947, she was united in marriage to Paul R. Paynter at the First Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, and the couple was subsequently blessed with three fine children. They farmed in the Brooklyn area until 1960, and then established and operated the first laundromat in Brooklyn. Gladys worked at Amana Refrigeration for 22 years, retiring in 1988. After Paul’s death in 1993, she continued to live in Brooklyn, enjoying an independent lifestyle and remaining active with her family, friends, and neighbors. She loved playing cards, painting, sewing, quilting, and following the exploits of her grandchildren, nieces and nephews and their families. She especially enjoyed maintaining connections with her extended family and many old friends across the years and miles. She was proud of her heritage and community. Although she spent her waning years near her daughter in Minnesota, she considered herself a lifelong resident of Brooklyn and was a proud member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the B.B.B. and Columbian Club. She was active in the First Presbyterian Church for over 70 years.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Paul; her parents, Albert and Mary Spading; brothers Ross, Marvin, and Harvey Spading; sisters Edith Spading, Myrtle Ormiston, Katherine Metz, and Marie Roudabush; also, brothers-in-law, Ralph and David Creps.

Surviving to celebrate her life and memory are Gladys’ children, Dr. Donald Paynter (Joyce), Cedar Rapids, Dennis Paynter (Ellen), Grapevine, TX, and Diane Shomper (Bob), Edina MN; grandchildren, Dr. Thomas Paynter (Beth), Cedar Rapids, Bradley Paynter (Lindsay), Seattle WA, Lauren Hunt (Chris) Colleyville TX, Nicole Paynter, New York, NY, and Emma Paynter, Berlin, Germany; great-grandchildren, Brandon and Ashlyn Paynter and Lydia and Colin Hunt and anticipated Baby Boy Paynter; brother-in-law, Earl Creps; and a number of devoted nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family to support the Edith Spading and Robert and Marie Roudabush Scholarship funds of the CSF of BGM, or to a local charity of the donor’s choice.