Gloria (Smith) Pfeifer
Gloria
(Smith) Pfeifer was welcomed home by her Lord on February 20, 2016 at Hospice
Home of Hope. Waiting with open arms was
the love of her life, Paul Joseph Pfeifer, her parents Paul K and Gertrude M
(Hawk) Smith, Grandmother Martha Smith, and other family, loved ones and
friends.
Gloria
was born Evanston, WY on May 18th, 1932 and spent much of her younger
years in Kemmerer, WY before her family settled in Lander, WY. She proudly served in the United States Air
Force from 1951-1953. While stationed at
Selfridge Field, MI she met Paul, also station at Selfridge near his hometown
of Mt Clemens. His parents wanted him to
invite that “little Wyoming girl” home to visit as they too had lived in
Kemmerer WY. It turned out they knew
many of the same people. Over time, the
visits became more about Paul and Gloria than remembrances between Pauls’
parents, Lawrence V and Catherine E Pfeifer.
Gloria
and Paul were married in Lander, WY on Oct 18, 1952. Gloria was honorably discharged from the Air Force
in 1953. Gloria accompanied Paul to Air
Force assignments to (then) remote Formosa (now known as Taiwan), Wurtsmith AFB, MI, to a recruiting assignment
in Norfolk, NE, and Offutt AFB in Omaha, NE.
Upon Paul’s retirement from the Air Force they relocated to Woodmoor, Colorado. They would relocate again for Paul’s work to
Plano, TX where Gloria worked for Honeywell, and finally settled in Bismarck,
IL for his second retirement. Paul
preceded Gloria in death while staying with son Paul & family back in
Woodmoor, CO on July 27, 2010.
Surviving
Gloria are her children: Catherine
(Jeff) Stratz of Fond du Lac, WI, sons, Paul Joseph Pfeifer of Woodmoor, CO,
Michael L (Lori) Pfeifer of New River, AZ and Paul Joseph (Pam) Pfeifer III of
Romeoville, IL; Grandchildren Jasmine Johnson of Navarre, FL, Brian (Amy)
Stratz of Athens, AL, Brandon (Alexandra “Sacha”) Stratz of Alexandria, VA,
Nicholas Pfeifer, Randall Pfeifer, (New River AZ, and Paul Homer Pfeifer of
Romeoville, IL. Gloria’s
great-grandchildren are Allison and Dean Stratz, Ethan Cortez, Abby Johnson,
and a new little “Baby Girl Stratz” is expected in July ’16. Gloria is further survived by her sister Onyx
Hamilton; brothers, Kenneth (Ann) Smith and Paul H (Myrna) Smith; special niece,
Zaundra Hamilton, Lacy Duran, and many nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Per
Gloria’s request, cremation has already taken place and no memorial services
will be held. As a veteran, Gloria will
be interned with full military honors and laid to rest next to her soulmate,
Paul, at Ft Logan National Cemetery in Denver, CO in the fall.
No
flowers please. If so inclined, donations to St Jude’s, Children’s Hospital,
Wounded Warriors, or Agnesian Hospice Home of Hope would be welcome.
Gloria and her family would
most sincerely wish to thank Dr. Virani and his staff at Fond du Lac’s Aurora
Cancer Center, Dr. VanderKooy and his folks at Fond du Lac’s Agnesian Cancer
Center and Agnesian’s Hospice (homecare and Hospice Home of Hope) for their
excellent warm and compassionate care. Special thanks to her Red Hat Honey
friends and those wonderful friends at the Monday morning Cathedral Mouse
Factory sewing sessions, along with Dean Brian Beno and wife Terri of St Paul’s
Cathedral.
Zacherl
Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family. www.zacherlfuneralhome.com