Gloria Tonn, 83

Aug. 24, 1933 —

 April 8, 2017

 

Elma -  Gloria Elaine Tonn, age 83 of Elma, Iowa, passed peacefully, surrounded by her loving family and furry companion, Penny on April 8, 2017.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Immaculate Conception Church in Elma with Father Mark Murphy celebrating. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Elma.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, April 17, 2017 at Conway-Markham Funeral Home in Elma, with a 3:30 p.m. Rosary and a 7 p.m. Celebration of Life service. Visitation will continue at the funeral home one hour prior to the funeral mass on Tuesday. Online condolences for Gloria’s Family may be left at www.conway-markhamfh.com. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Gloria Elaine was born to Edward and Helen (Drtina) Shimek at their little farm house near Maple Leaf, Iowa on Aug. 24, 1933. She attended country school in Howard County and was a 1952 graduate of Immaculate Conception Academy High School in Elma. On Oct. 21, 1952, she was united in marriage to Marvin “Louie” Tonn at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Schley, Iowa.  

They were blessed with seven children, Sandra (Dennis) Stevenson of Elma, Leland (Kathy) Tonn of Britt, Iowa, Lorilee Tonn of Elma, JoAnn (David) Marshall of Hayfield, Minn., Marvin (Sarah) Tonn of Oakdale, Minn., Peggy (Khris) Huhe, of Stewartville, Minn. and Michael (Michelle) Tonn of Stewartville. Gloria so loved her 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Besides being a master at homemaking, she was a story teller and the family historian, which she transferred into books for each of her children. 

She mastered quilting and gifted her family with quilted treasures. Gloria taught local quilting classes and sewed for “Lydia’s Sisters.” 

She enjoyed the special moments around the conversation table. She cared for her ill daughter, Lorilee, for 22 years and during these years she babysat for many local children. She worked at Colonial Manor, D&J’s Quick Stop and Comprehensive Systems in Elma.  

Gloria will always be remembered for opening her doors to others, her straightforward wit, her love of conversation and her home cooking. She will be missed dearly. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Marvin, Sr. in 1993; her daughter, Lorilee in 1991; Her son, Leland in 2009; granddaughter, Christina Tonn in 1978; her great-grandson, Gabriel Levi in 2017; and her brother, Carl Shimek.