Gertrude Amelia Glarner

Gertrude A. Glarner passed away at 95 years of age on Thursday, January 17, 2013 at the Samaritan Bethany Home on 8th in Rochester, Minnesota. Gertrude was the only girl among three boys, Palmer, Joyce and Herman, born to John and Rendie (Bremset) Bye on a farm in Roscoe Township, Minnesota.The date was July 16, 1917.In her mid-teens she moved to Zumbrota and worked odd jobs to pay for her room and board determined to graduate with the Zumbrota Class of 1935.It wasnt long after graduation that she met her handsome husband, Cyril F. Glarner, at a dance, fell in love and then was married on December 19, 1935. Cyril and Gert lived and worked the family farm in Berne, Minnesota.It was there that their three children, Jon, Judy, and Jane, were born and raised until 1958 when an opportunity arose for Cyril to join the workforce at a new company in Rochester, IBM.Eventually, the family left the farm and moved into a new home in Rochester.When living on the family farm, Gert was busy with the chores, raising her children and volunteering especially at their church, the Zwingli United Church of Christ in Berne.The family always took part in the Zwingli Annual Swissfest.During the years in Rochester, Gert worked in retail and as a secretary at John Marshall High School.She and Cyril enjoyed travels to Norway to visit Gerts relatives and, after retirement, spent a number of winters in Texas until Cyrils passing in 1993 and 56 years of marriage.There were annual family get-togethers for a week or two for the entire family at Mille Lacs Lake along with the grandkids and some special friends from OKC, Oklahoma, Roland and Freida Hoffman. Gert loved to bowl and was known for her expertise with the ball even into her 80s.She was also a fierce 500 card player, an avid reader, and spent much of her pastime solving crossword puzzles, knitting, crocheting and hardanger needlework.Both Gert and Cyril loved their church in Rochester, Peace United Church of Christ, and spent many hours volunteering at the church and the Olmsted Community Hospital gift shop. But most of all, Gert loved her three children, four grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.She leaves behind a son, Jon (Joan) Glarner of Rochester and their daughter, Lori (Tracy) Riess of Stewartville and their children, Alex, Derek, Hannah and Dylan.Left behind also is daughter Judy (Bruce) Clementson of Pine Island, their daughter Kara (Michael) Sandoval of Arvada, CO and their children, Michael, Kolbe and Vanessa.Left also is youngest daughter, Jane (Keith) Clementson of Zumbrota and their sons, David (Jenny) of Lake City and their daughters, Laura and Johannah; and son, Kyle (Jenny) Clementsonof Minneapolis and their children, Ruby, River and Axel.She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers.All who knew Gert, loved and will deeply miss her. A private family burial will take place on Saturday, February 2nd at the Zwingli Cemetery in Berne, Minnesota.Due to a family circumstance, a memorial service is being postponed until April 20, 2013.There will be more details posted later.The family request that any memorials be donated to the Samaritan Bethany Home on 8th in lieu of flowers.