Irma Rose Glawe, 94, of St. Olaf Iowa died Friday, June 11, 2021 at Garden View Place in Monona, Iowa. Irma Rose, daughter of Elmer and Blanche (Hansel) Morley was born on May 22, 1927 in Elk Township, near Garber, Iowa. Irma was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Church in Garber. She was raised in Clayton County and lived there all her life. She attended grade school and high school at Elkport, Iowa, and received a normal teacher’s training degree from Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa
Irma was united in marriage to Harley Gawe on December 12, 1948 at St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garber, Iowa. Four children were born to this union. Harley and Irma farmed outside of St. Olaf until they moved to Elkader in 2015.
After her marriage, Irma became a member of Peace United Church of Christ in Elkader. Much of her life centered around the church, at various times teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and Bible Study, serving on the kitchen committee, and participating as a member of the Deborah Circle. Irma was also a member of Elkader Peace Church Library Committee and a 4-H Leader. Irma taught in the Mt. Harmony rural school, (the same school her father taught in the early 1920’s), the Volga 7 school and the Hawkeye rural school district. She worked in the Elkader school system as a teacher’s aide at the elementary Public School. Irma also worked for Scenic Acres as an Activities Coordinator for 23 years and an ABE teacher (Adult Basic Educator) for 20 years. This she did until her mother had a stroke and needed help in her home for 6 years. During this time, she taught cake decorating at the Elkader Public School in the evenings for the Calmar programs. She also taught and sold crocheted items at Peace Church to revamp the restrooms. In later years, Irma made many quilts for family members. She will be remembered as one who enjoyed sewing, quilting, cooking, art work, decorating cakes, reading, spending time with her family and friends, and writing letters.
Surviving Irma are her children, Dennis (Cindy Sue) Glawe, Teresa (Richard) Sass, Vicki (Kevin) Bentien and Reed Glawe (Kimberly Banner); twelve grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; twenty-eight great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; sister, Ilo Moser; brother Lyle Morley; sister-in-law, Bernice Kobler; and her “other” children, Carol (Tom) Mueller, Brad (Chris) Glawe and Gene (Sheri) Glawe.
Irma was preceded in death by her husband, Harley Glawe; parents, Elmer and Blanche Morley; and her two sisters, Una Porter and Ina Steen.
Visitation will be held from 3-7 pm on Monday, June 14, 2021 at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Elkader, Iowa. There will also be a one hour visitation before services at the church on Tuesday.
Funeral Service will be at 11:00 am on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at Peace United Church of Christ in Elkader, Iowa with Rev. Jon Haack and Pastor Pam Reinig as the officiants.
Burial will follow at East Side Cemetery in Elkader, Iowa.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Elkader, Iowa is assisting the family with arrangements.