Gladys Smith

GLADYS SMITH

Cedar Rapids

Gladys Janet Smith, 83, of Cedar Rapids, passed from this earth into the loving arms of Jesus on Sunday, April 13, 2014.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 17, at First Assembly of God Church by Pastor Larry Sohn and Pastor Rick Gail. Burial will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

Gladys was born Aug. 3, 1930, in Ashland, Wis., the eldest of four children born to Edward R. and Ida (Karow) Brenning. Gladys married Clifford L. "Smitty" Smith in North Bend, Ore., on May 7, 1949.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford; her parents; a sister, Barbara Kraemer; and her brother, Robert Brenning.

Her mother was killed in 1945 in a tragic vehicle accident and Gladys left school at 15 to care for her father and three younger siblings. Her entire life was spent caring for others and for her family. She and Clifford had four children who all became her main focus. She lived her life based on the Christian beliefs her mother had instilled in her and she then passed those beliefs on to her family and children. Loving and serving God was her joy and she was a shining example of a caring, loving, Christian mother. Her favorite phrase was to tell her children they should never go anywhere they could not take Jesus with them or say anything that they could not say in His presence. The family home was always open to friends and neighbors. Gladys and Clifford were generous supporters of Christian missionary work. They supported many friends in their missionary work in other countries.

Gladys worked as a seamstress making custom draperies for over 22 years after her children were grown. She loved camping and traveling with friends and family, she even caught the bus to a few Cubs games! She and Clifford played cards with numerous groups and friends over the years. She gardened, canned, sewed, quilted and baked goodies in her "spare" time.

Gladys is survived by one sister, Carol Cramer of Ventura, Calif.; and four children, Janet (Kurt) Falkenstein of Cedar Rapids, Sherry (Alan) Cobb of Independence, Jerry (Elaine) Smith of Cedar Rapids and Caroline (Greg) Dick of Vinton; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Her last breath on earth was her first breath in Heaven. Gladys and Clifford will celebrate their 65th Wedding Anniversary together!

A memorial fund has been established and will go to support the missions work through First Assembly of God Church.

Online condolences may be submitted at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.