Gladys J. Dettmering, 99, passed away Friday, June 28, 2019, at Cedar Creek Life Center, Merritt Island, FL. Gladys was born in Chicago Heights, IL, on April 6, 1920. She was the last surviving child as the eighth of nine children born to Emil and Amelia Jaenicke. She graduated high school in 1938, met Allen through the church Walther League and married in 1941 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Chicago Heights, IL. She worked as a secretary and possessed outstanding shorthand and typing skills. After Allen returned from WWII, they started a family, she became a homemaker and helped her husband with the family owned tavern and restaurant in Matteson, IL.
She moved with Allen to Merritt Island in 1991, purchased a home and joined Faith Lutheran Church, Merritt Island, FL. She was active in bible study groups and Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. Gardening and especially pulling weeds were a passion, and she also enjoyed being a member of TOPS and KOPS. She was preceded in death by her husband Allen in 2013 after 71 years of marriage. As a resident of Cedar Creek Life Center since 2016, she thoroughly enjoyed bingo, exercise, and Friday social events. She liked getting her hair done at the Cedar Creek beauty salon, and going to church on Sunday along with eating out.
She is survived by her daughter Carol Bourke, son-in-law Jim Bourke, of Pt. St. John, FL; son Philip Dettmering of Joliet, IL, and daughter Diane Denault of Clewiston, FL; six grandchildren—Daniel Bourke (Lori), Barbara Allison, Amy Welter (David), Sara Hoppe (Scott), Debra Denault (Alex), and Philip Karl Dettmering (Crystal); 12 great-grandchildren—Jonathon and Faith Bourke; Madelyn Allison; Jonas and Natalie Welter; Christian and Liam Hoppe; Oliver and Lilly Portabales; Ethan and Noah Dettmering; and Laurel Norris, and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Saturday, July 20 from 1PM – 2PM at Faith Lutheran Church, Merritt Island, FL, with the Celebration of Life to follow at 2PM.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, 280 E. Merritt Avenue, Merritt Island, FL 32953 or Hospice of St. Francis, 1250-B Grumman Place, Titusville, FL 32780.
The family expresses gratitude to the staff of Cedar Creek Merritt Island and the nurses and staff of Hospice of St. Francis for the care and compassion provided to Gladys and her family throughout her residence at Cedar Creek
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