Hilsenbeck, Gladys M. (Stanek) (Berns)

Gladys M. (Stanek) (Berns) Hilsenbeck, 77, of Marion, died Friday, Oct. 12, 2012, at home after a courageous fight against cancer.

Born Feb. 13, 1935, in Rowley, Iowa, to Paul and Janie Stanek, she attended Hazleton High School, graduating in 1953. She married Donald R. Berns (died 1978) on July 27, 1957, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She married James A. Hilsenbeck on July 21, 1984, in Marion, Iowa.

Gladys, a longtime resident of Marion, was employed at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids for over 30 years, retiring in December 1992. She was a 30-year member of IBEW Local 1362, member of St. Joseph Catholic Church since 1955, member of St. Theresa Circle, Over-60 Club, and Dominic Club. She also volunteered at St. Joseph School and participated in the St. Joseph and Regis booster clubs.

Gladys is survived by her husband, James Hilsenbeck of Marion; three sons, Terry (Christine) Berns of Highland Park, Ill., Larry (Susan) Berns of Cedar Rapids and Jerry (Deb) Berns of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Brent and Sarah Berns of Cedar Rapids; brother, Ralph (Janice) Stanek of Marion; sister-in-law, Corrine Halse of Marion; two brothers-in-law, Curtis Hilsenbeck (Susan Olsen) of Brighton, Colo., and Jerry (Janet) Hilsenbeck of Naperville, Ill.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Donald Berns; parents, Paul and Janie Stanek; in-laws, Carl and Margaret Berns; in-laws, Howard and Doris Hilsenbeck; sister, Arita Washburn; sister-in-law, Marie (Berns) Monnahan and her husband, Francis; brother-in-law, Elmer Berns and his wife, Celine; sister-in-law, Verna Mae (Berns) Keppler; brother-in-law, James Harris; and brother-in-law, Ronald Halse.

Funeral Mass: 10:30. a.m. Monday, Oct. 15, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion by Father Tony Kruse. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion, where a parish vigil will begin at 6 p.m., and will be followed by a rosary service. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.

Instead of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hospice of Mercy or Camp Courageous in memory of Gladys.

Please sign the online guest book for Gladys at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published Oct. 13, 2012 in The Gazette