Esther Elizabeth Donohue Gloden

IN MEMORY OF
ESTHER E. DONOHUE GLODEN

BORN
July 22, 1913 ~ Ashton, Iowa
PASSED AWAY
August 8, 2007 ~ Sheldon, Iowa

FUNERAL SERVICE
10:30 A.M. Saturday
August 11, 2007
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
Sheldon, Iowa
Father Robert J. Schimmer ~ Celebrant
Lector: Norman Freking

MUSIC
“You Are Mine”
Psalm “Shepherd Me, O God”
“Ave Maria” - Soloist: Tyler Youngers
“O Loving God”
“What Wondrous Love Is This”
Cantor: Tyler Youngers
Organist: Laura Wagner

CASKET BEARERS
Bob Mulhern John Greene
Jim Smith Ron Honkomp
Norb Strouth Tom Dunn

FINAL RESTING PLACE
St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery
Sheldon, Iowa

Arrangements are under the care of the
Vander Ploeg Funeral Home Sheldon, Iowa

After the graveside service, relatives and friends are invited to join the family in the fellowship hall of the church.

ESTHER E. DONOHUE GLODEN


Esther Elizabeth Donohue Gloden, the daughter of John and Minnie (Spartz) Honkomp, was born July 22, 1913 on a farm S.E. of Ashton, Iowa. She grew up in Ashton, then attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School, and graduated from high school in 1932. Esther then worked at Sacred Heart Hospital in LeMars, IA. She later studied to be a beautician at The Academy in Sioux City, Iowa. Upon graduation, she moved to Sheldon where she worked at and later became the owner of the Mariposa Beauty Shop. In 1937, she was crowned Miss Sheldon. On November 3, 1942, Esther was united in marriage to Joseph Donohue in Fort Wayne, IN. Their son, Jack, was born in 1945. Her husband, Joe, preceded her in death on March 10, 1947. Esther later married Lawrence Gloden on August 9, 1952 in Ashton, IA. Their daughter, Mary Ann, was born in 1953. Esther was then preceded in death by her husband, Larry, on July 19, 1990. Esther remained in her home in Sheldon until she passed away on Wednesday, August 8, 2007 at the Sanford Sheldon Medical Center in Sheldon, reaching the age of 94 years and 16 days.
Esther was an active member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sheldon; serving as president of the Ladies Guild and doing church circle work. Her family and friends were the focus of her life. Immediate family, siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews all played a significant role in her happiness and her longevity. Esther enjoyed watching major league baseball games - especially the Minnesota Twins. She also enjoyed playing cards, bowling, gardening, attending her grandchildren’s school activities, and traveling whenever the opportunity presented itself. She was rarely caught napping during a trip because she “might miss out on something.”
Esther is survived by her son, John “Jack” and his wife, Mary Donohue, of Sheldon, IA; and a daughter, Mary Ann and her husband, Jim Hauth, of Kalona, IA; two grandchildren, Elizabeth and her husband, Casey Kingdon, of Carroll, IA and Joe Donohue of Eagan, MN; a twin sister, Eva Strouth, of Ashton, IA; two sisters-in-law, Mildred “Millie” Honkomp of Sioux City, IA and Marcella “Sally” Honkomp of Sibley, IA; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by both of her husbands, Joseph Donohue and Lawrence Gloden; her parents, three brothers - Vincent, Leonard and Norbert Honkomp; and four sisters - Stacia Engels, Alma Smith, Margaret Greene and Stella Mulhern-Davis.



Afterglow

I’d like the memory of me
to be a happy one.
I’d like to leave an afterglow
of smiles when life is done.
I’d like to leave an echo
whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing times
and bright and
sunny days.
I’d like the tears of those who
grieve, to dry before the sun
Of happy memories that I leave
When life is done.