Gladys Ida Schmidt (nee Pierron), age 95, found eternal peace on Dec. 20, 2017 following a short illness.

Gladys was born on November 9, 1922 near Belgium, WI, the fourth of eight children of Nicolas and Johanna Mayer Pierron.

Gladys graduated from High School at age 16. “That’s because I ran away from home at age four to go to school, which was across the road from the family farm. I wanted to be with my brother and sisters to learn. My family always joked that I dug a hole under the school yard fence to get in.”

After attending vocational school in Milwaukee, she joined the Advertising department of Miller Brewing. “One day they handed me the ‘Girl in the Moon’ costume and said if it fits, you have the job.” For five years during World War II, Gladys delighted in that role as part of Miller floats in bond rally parades.

After the war, she married the late Bruce Frusher, father of James, Gary and Janice. After moving to West Bend, she worked as a secretary in the laboratory of St. Joseph’s Community Hospital. During her 23 years there she made many life-long friends who she cherished.

She recently celebrated her 46th wedding anniversary with her beloved husband Ralph. Ralph’s children Paul and Christine became part of her blended family. Together Ralph and Gladys traveled to all fifty states and thirty countries. Golf was a big source of enjoyment for both of them. They also enjoyed gardening, which they put to good use as they built and maintained garden beds at Ziegler Park. This was an idea they presented to the West Bend Park Association and it became the start of the West Bend Beautification Committee.

Ralph recently said “She had a beautiful philosophy of life. She liked to experience new things and was enthusiastic about everything.” Gladys had said “I always told people don’t wait until you retire to enjoy life. Keep trying things and when you retire, keep doing something you enjoy every day.”

Gladys is survived by her husband, Ralph Schmidt of West Bend, sons James (Cheri) Frusher of DePere, WI and Gary Frusher of Madison, step children Paul Schmidt of Phoenix, AZ and Christine Schmidt of Port Washington, WI. She is further survived by her brother, Francis (Barbara) Pierron of Grafton, WI and her sister, Lavern Cornish of Phoenix, AZ as well as many nieces and nephews.

Gladys was preceded in death by her first husband Bruce and her daughter Janice and son-in-law Daniel Bertram, as well as her parents and six of her brothers and sisters.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 12:30 pm on January 6, 2018 at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church (1025 S 7th Ave., West Bend, WI). Visitation will be at the church only on Saturday, January 6 from 10:30 am until time of mass (12:30 pm). In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Frances Cabrini (1025 S 7th Ave., West Bend, WI) or St. Joseph’s Hospital (3200 Pleasant Valley Rd., West Bend, WI 53095).

The family wishes to thank Dr. G. Michael Mosley, the staff of the ICU unit of St. Joseph’s Community Hospital and the staff at the Kathy Hospice for the care and comfort they offered Gladys during her final days.

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