Gladyce H. Snell

Gladyce H. Snell, 90 of Cook passed away on Wednesday March 23, 2016 at Carefree Living in Cook.

She was born on April 29, 1925 by a midwife in the East Little Fork area, near Cook, the daughter of Edwin and Agnes (Johnson) Trygg. Her mother passed away when she was five years old and Gladyce was raised by her grandparents Katrina "Carrie" and Karl Johnson. When she was 16 years old she quit school, moved to Duluth to work, and later to Minneapolis where she was employed driving street cars in downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul, at a battery factory, and at Ft. Snelling (officer's mess hall), all during World War 11.

She married Viljo 'Joe" Snell on November 6, 1943 in Minneapolis. After Joe's honorable discharge from the Army at the end of World War II in 1945, the couple settled in Cook, where they raised their family. When the children were old enough to attend school, Gladyce began working at the Cook Community Hospital where she was a valued and trusted employee in housekeeping and laundry for 40 years. She also worked at the Christmas tree factory in Cook. In 1981 she proudly earned her GED at the age of 56. Gladyce later made her residence in the Pioneer Apartment Building in Cook then for the past 3 years her home has been at Carefree Living.

Gladyce was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and its Women's Guild, Cook VFW Auxiliary and the Cook Hospital Auxiliary- commonly called the "Thrift Shop." She also did volunteer work for the yearly Cook Hospital Christmas Bazaar.

She loved visiting with family, and friends, especially her best old dear friend, Clara Gustafson. She was a 2 ^nd mom and grandma to many. Gladyce had a wide range of interests, including reading, playing bingo, doing jigsaw puzzles, playing cards especially cribbage, gardening, flowers, crocheting afghans and baby blankets, traveling, blueberry picking, music of Daniel O'Donnell and Polka dancing. Her house was always a deer camp to family and relatives.

The family would like to thank all the Cook Carefree Living staff for the love and care they gave to their mom in the past 3 years, and to the East Range Hospice, for their care in her final days.

Gladyce is preceded in death by husband Viljo "Joe" in 1980; siblings, Helmer Trygg, Evelyn Sundlin, Edith Treska, Mabel Blair and Lillian Anderson; son in law, Tom Lowe; and the second love of her life, her fiancé, Anton Zupanich.

She is survived by her children; Barbara (Ron) Jensen of Two Harbors, Jerome "Jerry" (Billie Jean Burritt) Snell of Cook, Judy (Dave) Grebenc of Helena, MT, Linda Snell of Denver, CO, Lori (Tony) Barber of San Antonio, TX and Gerry Blair - whom Gladyce considered a second son; one sister, Arlene Schroeder of Peoria, IL; an aunt, Janice Huesby of Bagley, MN; best friend Clara Gustafson - now of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; 10 Grandchildren: Dawn (Leo) Arzon, Ron (Kari) Jensen, Cindy (Joel) Ehrich, Jacob Snell, Leah (Steve) Geray, Jerry (Debbie) Grebenc, John (Sandra) Grebenc, James (Sarah) Grebenc, Logan Barber and Drew Barber; 16 Great Grandchildren: Halley Grebenc, Elsa Grebenc, Alexander Jensen, Victoria Jensen, Dominic Arzon, Joseph Ehrich, Ellie Ehrich, James Ehrich, Tiffany Grebenc, Jarietta (Curt) Stout, Tara (Jerome) Ramsey, John Grebenc, Justin Smith, James Smith, Henry Geray and Drayke Geray; 5 Great-Great Grandchildren: Za'maya Grebenc, Don't'e Grebenc, Jerome Ramsey, Sarsheil Grebenc Chase and Riley Stout; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

SERVICES : Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, April 1, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cook. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 pm Thursday at the Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook, and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church. Pastor Bruce Hannem will be the officiant. The soloist will be Patti Fisher. Casket bearers will be Gladyce's grandsons: Jerry Grebenc, John Grebenc, James Grebenc, Ron Jensen Jr, Jacob Snell, Drew Barber, Logan Barber and Joel Ehrich. The honorary bearers will be Ken Koski, Gerry Blair and Don Snell. Burial will be in the Cook Community Cemetery. A reception in Gladyce's honor will follow in the church social hall. Arrangements are with the Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook. To sign the online guest book or to leave a condolence for the family, please visit: www.mlakerfuneralhome.com