Memorials › Gladys Kloesel Surman
Gladys Kloesel Surman
13 Apr 1932 – 4 Aug 2025
| Birth | 13 Apr 1932 |
| Death | 4 Aug 2025 |
| Cemetery | Praha Catholic Cemetery Praha , Fayette County , Texas , USA |
| Added by | John Pavlik on 05 Aug 2025 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/285704844 |
Bio
Gladys Surman April 13, 1932 - August 4, 2025 Gladys Surman, of Schulenburg, departed this earthly world on August 4, 2025, to meet with family and friends who preceded her in death. The good Lord blessed her with 93 years, 3 months, and 2 days of life. Gladys was born in Weimar on April 13, 1932, to Henry and Adela Michalek Kloesel. She lived in Sedan, Middle Creek, Houston, Praha, St. John and Schulenburg. She happily resided at the Schulenburg Regency Nursing Center for the last five years; that was after living in the Regency Villas for six years. She attended elementary school in Sedan's two-room school house and went to high school in Weimar. In her teenage years, Gladys was bitten by a cat and had to endure shots in her stomach for 23 consecutive days--which was protocol to prevent rabies at that time. Traveling from Sedan to the hospital in Schulenburg on a daily basis would have been costly and time consuming, so her parents elected for her stay at the hospital. To earn her keep, she helped the hospital staff. It was during this stay that she met her husband, Herbert Surman, while Herbert's mother was a patient at the hospital. After an eighteen month courtship, they married on September 4, 1950. Gladys and Herbert lived in Praha from the time of their marriage until 1953, when they moved to Houston. They moved back to Praha in 1966 and started a new life for their family of six children. Gladys helped with outside work on the family farm and was a full-time mother until all of her children had grown up. She then worked at Frank's Restaurant making those famous pies for 13 years, at the Schulenburg Regency Nursing Center for 6 and a half years, and, in her very senior years, at the nursery for Schulenburg United Methodist Church for almost two years. She saw the way of life go from horse & buggy days with no phone to present day emailing and mobile phone with texting, and 16 presidents in between. Gladys loved to shop. She didn't buy much; she got great pleasure out of just looking. She could easily spend two hours in a Walmart, and leave with no more than a few items. Gladys enjoyed spending time with her children, 12 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. She was most comfortable always "doing something" and dedicated herself to the happiness of others, expecting nothing in return. She had a servant's heart and focused on putting others first. Gladys was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years in 1998; daughter, Beatrice, who passed away in infancy in 1962; daughter, Diana in 2023; her parents; and her husband's siblings and their spouses. Memories of Gladys will be cherished by daughter, Norma and husband Felix Buxkemper of Huntsville; son, Patrick Surman and wife Pam of Engle; daughter, Barbara and husband Jim Brown of Schulenburg; daughter, Gladys and husband AJ Kutac of St. John; son, Mike Surman and Colette of Hostyn; the previously referenced numerous grandchildren; sister, Dolores DeLaFuente (94) of Hockley; and numerous nieces and nephews and their spouses. She will be remembered as a sweet lady who had a heart for dogs and loved ice cream. A special thanks to the staff at Schulenburg Regency, the caretakers of Hospice of South Texas, and to Fr. Luke Prihoda. Funeral Services will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 8, 2025, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Schulenburg with interment to follow in Praha Catholic Cemetery. The family will receive friends beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at Schwenke-Baumgarten Funeral Home in Schulenburg with the parish rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. from the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church or School, Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter, Hospice of South Texas, or a charity of your choice.
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