Gladys M. Loftis, 88, of Tekamah died Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair.

Services are 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15, at Alder Grove United Methodist Church in Craig. Interment will be at the Tekamah Cemetery.

Visitation began Monday, but will also be held one hour prior to services on Tuesday.

Gladys Marie Christoffersen was born July 12, 1922, in the rural farm home north of Kennard to Chris and Hilma (Follen) Christoffersen.

She attended school at Bisbee, March, Brodersen, Herman and Pleasant View Public Schools. In addition, she was a member of 4-H. From the time she was a teenager until she married, she worked and stayed at people's homes, cleaning and cooking for them and caring for their sick or injured family members in exchange for room and board, as well as a modest $2 a week, if it was afforded to her.

On Oct. 9, 1941, she married Marion Loftis of the Herman and Craig area, at the Washington County Courthouse in Blair. They farmed most of their married life in the Alder Grove neighborhood south of Craig. In 1983, they retired from farming and moved to Tekamah.

Mrs. Loftis was a dedicated member of the Alder Grove United Methodist Church in rural Craig, and a member of the Alder Grove Women's Extension Club for 64 years, serving as county chairman for two years. As a member of the Tekamah United Methodist Women, she assisted with bingo and at the Golden Living Center for many years. She also enjoyed the fun and friendship of the Alder Grove Women's Birthday Club.

She is survived by her two daughters and sons-in-law, Donna and Bob Gatzemeyer of Tekamah, and Linda and Wayne Nelsen of Blair; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Marion; brother, Vernon Christoffersen; and granddaughter, Juliann Gatzemeyer.

Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah is in charge of arrangements.

#2 Funeral Leaflet

In Loving Memory of Gladys Marie Loftis

88 years, 6 months, 29 days

Born July 12, 1922 Rural Kennard, Nebraska ~ Entered Into Rest February 10, 2011 Blair, Nebraska

Funeral Service 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 15, 2011 Alder Grove United Methodist Church, Rural Craig, Nebraska. Rev. Richard Tiggelaar and Rev. Philip Sloat, Officiating. Special Music: “In the Garden”, “Blessed Assurance” by Kate and Ethan Shogren, fiddles; “Hymn of Promise” #707, “Blest Be The Tie That Binds” #557, Cheryl Baron, organist.

Casketbearers: Timothy Edwards, Aaron Gatzemeyer, Tom Oloff, Duane Kuhl, Mark Imholte, Larry Dennis, Jerry Navrude

Interment: Tekamah Cemetery, Tekamah, Nebraska

Arrangements by Pelan Funeral Services, Tekamah

~~~ Obituary and funeral leaflet courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska~~~

FindaGrave # 65578758