Gladys Darlene Zweifel passed away on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am, Thursday, March 20, at Hope Reformed Church in Spencer, Iowa. Interment will be at Barnes Township Cemetery in Linn Grove.
Arrangements by Warner Funeral Home – Spencer, Iowa.
Gladys Darlene Pelley Zweifel, second daughter in a family of nine, was born on July 13, 1917, on a farm near Gilmore City, Iowa, to George and Emma Zeeman Lovrien. She moved with her parents to Eagle Grove, Iowa, and later to Laurens, Iowa, where she spent her childhood and attended school until her sophomore year. She then moved to Linn Grove where she graduated in 1934.
Gladys married Clair William Pelley in 1934 and to this union three children, Barbara, Donna and Charles, were born. In 1987, after 53 years of marriage, Clair passed away. She and Clair spent their married years in Linn Grove, Iowa, where all of their children were raised. She was a hard worker, raising a large garden and canning huge amounts each year. She made much of the girls’ clothing and sometimes sewed for other people. At times she worked as a waitress and at a canning factory. Clair spent two years in the service during World War 11 and Gladys was left to care for three young children. She hadn’t driven a car previous to that time, but she determinedly tackled that challenge!
In 1993, Gladys married Robert Zweifel and they resided in Spencer, Iowa. She joined Hope Reformed Church where Bob was a member and greatly enjoyed the many spiritual opportunities and new friendships. Bob passed away in 1996 after a lingering illness.
Gladys loved children. She helped organize the Jr. Legion Auxiliary in Linn Grove in 1965 and was chairman for many years. She delighted in playing Santa Claus, complete with white beard and padded stomach for nine years. She also drove a school bus for kindergarten and Special Education children and spent several years helping in lower grades at different schools in Spencer, as well as participating in the “Babes” program there.
Gladys was a charter member of #367 post of American Legion Auxiliary in Linn Grove. She was a member of the Riverside Presbyterian Church in Linn Grove until she moved to Spencer and became a member of the Hope Reformed Church. She enjoyed attending church and Sunday school as well as Bible study classes. She was also a Hospice volunteer for many years as well as a member of RSVP, a national volunteer network. In 2001, she was chosen to receive the state of Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award. Above all, she was a loving caregiver, who always put others needs first.
Gladys loved to cook and bake. You just couldn’t beat the smell of freshly baked bread, cookies and cake that greeted her family and friends as they entered her kitchen. There was never a more hospitable person than she and this was true throughout her life. It would be impossible to guess the number of batches of fudge she made for birthdays and holidays!
In the fall of 2014, Gladys moved to Keelson Harbour, an assisted living and memory care facility in Spirit Lake, Iowa, where she was closer to her daughters. She loved the staff and residents there and enjoyed the many activities offered, Bingo and the many Bible studies being her favorite! She acquired the nickname Gladi, and was greeted by that name often as she “ran” down the hall with her walker. She was so fortunate to have a ground floor apartment so that she could have her plants out on the little patio as well as enjoy the outside views and the fresh air when the weather cooperated.
Her family was her dearest treasure and she loved each and every one of them. She is survived by her children, Barbara Golinghorst, Sherburn, MN; Donna (Roger) Harms, Okoboji, IA; Charles (Ann) Pelley, Wheatland, IA; stepsons, Jim Zweifel, Colorado; Robert Johnson, Spencer, Iowa; grandchildren, Michael Golinghorst, Lori (Marty) Moon, Scott (Lori Jean) Golinghorst, Marc (Trish Rademacher, fiancée) Golinghorst, Brett (Dalena) Golinghorst, Bruce (Marlene Frost) Brown, Daniel Brown, Terry (Julie) Brown, Parrish (Brenda) Pelley, Dana (Joy) Pelley, Patrick (Archana) Pelley, Paula (Denny) Dull, Ross (Tamara) Harms, as well as several great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; siblings, Shirley (Ray) Ohrtman of Spencer, Iowa; and Bob Lovrien of Rockford, Illinois. She was preceded in death by husbands Clair Pelley and Robert Zweifel; brother, Glenn Lovrien; sisters, Inez Lauritsen, Ruth Lovrien, Alice Carlson, Helen Porter and Hope Leonard; as well as several brothers and sisters in-law.
