Gladys June Pfeif

Gladys was born September 6, 1928 in Bracewell, CO, a community between Windsor and Greeley, to Henry Ruff and Ernestine (Hilgenberg) Ruff. She had a younger brother, Donald Ruff. Gladys grew up in Fort Collins and graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1946.

At 14, Gladys met Harold H. Pfeif and they were married in Loveland with a German dance reception at the Fort Collins Country Club in 1946, following Gladys’ graduation.

Gladys and Harold were partners in life and in everything they did. They grew up during the depression and so knew the value of frugality, ingenuity, hard work, and self-reliance. Together, they started farming in Fort Collins in 1946 , just half a mile from where Gladys grew up.

They owned farms in Wellington, Fort Collins, and Greeley, and worked side-by-side in the field, along with feeding cattle and sheep. When they weren’t working, Gladys and Harold could be found cutting a rug out polka dancing.

Upon retirement Gladys and Harold built a house around the lake in Windsor and used their RV to attend polka festivals and to visit friends. After Harold’s passing in 2007, Gladys moved to a smaller house in Loveland where she stayed until 2016 when she moved to Denver to be closer to her daughter and family. The move was hard, but necessary and she enjoyed getting to see her family more often. She made friends with other residents and never had to worry about sitting alone at the lunch table.

Gladys was a dedicated wife and mother, she made the best fried chicken with white gravy and baked the best yellow cake for any and every occasion throughout her life.

A true ‘Type A’ personality, she strived for perfection, she was a proud, independent – and stubbornly outspoken lady of her generation. Generally speaking, it was best to steer clear of politics at holidays and family dinners, lest she get fired up!

Gladys was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brother, and the beloved aunt, Lily Wilcox. She is survived by one daughter, Thelma Jean (Charles), one granddaughter, Shannon Emily (Vergo), one step-sister, Doris Meyer, a sister-in-law, Elsie Pfeif, cousins, and nieces and nephews plus seven great-grand four-legged furry folk.

Gladys’ life will be celebrated at the Allnutt Drake Chapel on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 12:00 P.M. followed by a graveside service at Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly appreciates donations in Gladys Pfeif’s name to:

Lutheran Hospice, In memory of Gladys Pfeif, please include your contact information, 3210 Lutheran Parkway, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033.

or

Scottish Rite Foundation, 1370 Grant Street, Denver, CO 80203.