Gladys Mathison, 88 of Eau Claire, WI, passed away on Friday, March 27, 2009, surrounded by her family under the care of Northwest Wisconsin HomeCare. Gladys was born Dec. 21, 1920, in Mt. Vernon, SD, to Jasper and Mathilda (Egland) Loon. She grew up on a farm in a family of five brothers and three sisters. She attended grade school and high school at Mt. Vernon, SD. \r\nGladys attended Beauty School in Sioux Falls, SD, and first worked as a beauty operator in Tripp, SD. \r\nShe met her future husband Vernon at a U.S.O. dance in Rapid City, SD. Gladys married Vernon Mathison on July 9, 1943, in Spokane, Washington while Vernon was in the U.S. Air Force. After WW II they moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1947 where they raised their family. \r\nGladys worked 20 years as an office clerk for the Eau Claire Board of Education until her retirement in 1982. \r\nShe was a member of First Lutheran Church where she had been active in the Ladies Circle and quilting.\r\nShe loved family gatherings with her children and grandchildren. Gladys and Vernon enjoyed 10 years of traveling following retirement, in their motor home to Texas, Florida and Arizona. They continued to enjoy dancing through their many years of marriage, and golfing together. \r\nGladys is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Vernon; her three children, Dianne (David) Tietz of St. Petersburg, FL, Steven (Sue) Mathison of Eau Claire and Lynn Fergueson of Scottsdale, AZ; six grandchildren, Sally and Brian Tietz, Aaron and Brent Mathison, and George and Alissa Fergueson; two great grandchildren, Travis and Ava Grace Tietz; a brother, Lester Lunde of Senora, CA: and many nieces and nephews.\r\nShe was preceded in death by her daughter, Mary Kay Mathison in 1958, her parents, brothers and sisters. \r\nFuneral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2009, at First Lutheran Church with Pastor Scott Miller officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery in Eau Claire. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home and one hour prior to services Tuesday at the church.\r\nFamily requests memorials be directed to First Lutheran Church, 1005 Oxford Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54703, or to the donors choice.\r\n

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