Gladys Tholen Nov. 20, 1931 – Jan. 2, 2023

      Gladys Tholen, 91, of Monticello, died Monday, Jan. 2, 2023 at her daughter’s home following a brief illness.

    Funeral services were held 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Monticello with interment in the Oakwood Cemetery. Friends called from 4 until 7 p.m. Friday at Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello. Pastor David Raemisch officiated at the services. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Matthew Lutheran Church or Camp Courageous.

    Surviving are two daughters, Cynthia (Michael) Ingalls, Deborah Kuker; two sisters, Betty Jacobs and Marion Rio. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Patricia in 1966; her husband, Duane in 1995; and son-in-law Dennis Kuker.

    Gladys Frieda Fass was born Nov. 20, 1931 in Lovell Township, Jones County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Albert and Marie Friedrichs, Fass. Gladys went to Lovell Township School #9 and #1 before going to high school in Monticello. She graduated with the class of 1950 from Monticello Community Schools. Gladys married Duane Tholen on Aug. 24, 1949 at the Little Brown Church, Nashua. The couple farmed on the Fass Family farm north of Monticello. She retired from active farming in 1995.

    Gladys was a lifelong member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church where she was baptized on Dec. 16, 1931 and confirmed her faith on March 25, 1946. She also belonged to the St. Matthew Sewing Circle. Gladys was also active in the Federated Garden Club now the Forget-Me- Knots, attending her last meeting on Dec. 15, 2022. She enjoyed reading and crossword puzzles until her eyes failed her. Then her daughter, Cynthia, became her eyes, reading Gladys the Monticello Express every week and Our Iowa magazine every month. After Gladys moved to Cynthia's they moved all her cookie baking pans and her cookie bowl with her and continued making cookies until Covid 19. Gladys was affectionately known as the "Cookie Lady".