Gwendolyn Kay Walden

Gwendolyn Kay Putnam was born October 6, 1943, the youngest of 10 children born to Charles and Gladys Putnam, and raised in Naper, Nebraska. She excelled at academics and was guided by her Lutheran faith. She devotedly attended church worship and activities.

After receiving her Bachelor's degree in education, she began teaching in California, and after one year, returned to Randolph, Nebraska where Gwen and Gene met as teachers. They married two years later in 1968, and a year later, Jolene was born.

They moved to Ashland, NE where they both taught at the high school. David and Debra were born in 1973 and Gwen stopped teaching to raise the family.

Gwen's faith, her trust in God, was her true strength and sanctuary after the loss of her mother when she was 10.

In 1978, Gwen was elected to the Ashland City Council where she served for five years before being named city clerk/treasurer for the following 8 years. She understood the fundamentals of political bodies and influenced the development of many large improvements to the City of Ashland.

Gwen was also very active in the American Lutheran Church in Ashland, devout in her faith and teaching others.

In 1991, Gwen was offered a financial management position at a Las Vegas casino where she worked until assuming a similar management position at a casino in Colorado. After 8 years, Gwen moved back to Nebraska and took a position in management with the Convergys Corporation, working there until her retirement. Gwen was a hard worker, respected by co-workers and friends.

She loved family get-togethers and enjoyed talking with her children and grandchildren. She recognized them as individuals, took delight in their accomplishments, and was so proud of the people they became.

Gwen experienced many physical challenges including breast cancer, quadruple heart bypass surgery, back surgery, and a major stroke in 2018.

Gwen was a woman of deep faith and loved participating in several prayer groups. She particularly enjoyed her ministry of taking communion to church members in care centers and those in hospitals. She frequently quoted the commandment that we should love our neighbors as ourselves and often said, "God is light and God is love."

She will be missed by all who knew her.

Gwen is survived by her children, Jolene (Neil) Berke of Kearney, NE, Debra (Casey) Anderson of Fountain Hills, AZ, and David (Lorie) Walden of Council Bluffs, IA; six grandchildren, Emelie, Katherine, Sarah, Elliot, Olivia, and Ian; sister, JoAnn Mitchell of Atkinson, Nebraska, sister-in-law, Darlene Putnam of Hastings, Nebraska; brother-in-law, Denton Colfack of Atkinson; as well as several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gladys and Charles Putnam; husband, Claude Eugene Walden; and sisters, Marie, Mavis, Sandy, and Dee; and brothers, Richard, Robert, Charles, and Donald.

Memorials will be designated to the Nebraska Humane Society.