Gladys E. Strasser

The Life of Gladys Elisabeth Strasser has come to a peaceful end in the hands of God at the age of 87 at the Mount View Care Center in Wausau Wisconsin on Thursday evening the 6th of November 2025. Gladys was born October 26th, 1938 to Joseph and Anna Knetter, the child of a farmer and a homemaker. She was a graduate of Edgar High School and worked for a time at the Edgar Basket Factory. She met her husband Alfred at a social dance and were married on December 28th, 1957. Together they moved to Virginia where he was stationed in the Army.

When they returned home they helped her father on the family farm in Cassel, while her husband worked at the Edgar Packaging Plant.

They started their family and had 4 children, Dale (Gwyn) Strasser, Thomas Strasser, Christine (David) Heil, and Nancy (Ronald) Beilke. After the passing of her father, they took over her father’s farm and added their 5th child to the family, Lisa (Ryan) Schilling. Gladys and her husband helped in the raising of a couple of foster children as well. During this time in her life Gladys worked side by side with her husband and was found most often on a tractor in the fields. Together they enjoyed snowmobiling with large groups of neighbors and friends, fishing, shooting league pool and bowling. They were almost always found together in whatever they did until his death on October 30th, 1986.

Gladys remained on the family farm and continued to raise a few calves every year. She also began working at Marathon Cheese, and often traveled with her sisters Violet and Lorraine. Las Vegas was a frequent trip allowing her time to spend with her son Tom who would meet them there. During this time of her life she spent as much time as possible with her grandchildren. Justin Strasser, Travis (Sara) Strasser, Taylor Heil, Cody (Megan) Heil, Hope (Justin) Shotz, Whitney Beilke, Cameron (Sara) Beilke and Tara and Cole Schilling. She attended their sporting events, took them bowling for hours, out to eat or for ice cream. She traveled to Utah to watch Justin play ball, watched Cody perform in plays and attended their graduations.

She also had the opportunity to spend time with her great grandchildren, Tyla Beilke-Seubert, Grayson and Ariya Shotz, Fin and Tate Beilke, Emma and Kylie Strasser and Kingson and Nolan Heil while at the Nursing Homes.

There came a time in her life that special care was required. She spent time in a rehab facility and a couple memory care facilities, meeting dance partners and making friends. A final move was required to Mount View Care Center where she was cared for by caregivers with gentle hearts and hands until her passing.

Gladys was preceded by Death by her parents, Frank and Anna, her siblings Stanley, Melvin, Marvin, Paul, Lorraine and Arlene. Her sister Violet (Earl) Streveler is her only living sibling. She was also proceeded by death by her husband Alfred and her son Thomas.

Gladys will always be remembered as a lover of the outdoors, planting trees and flowers, a lover of driving tractors, mowing her lawn and loud cars. In her healthy days she would walk for miles. She was a hugger and kisser wishing complete strangers a “good day”. She loved Cheetos and snacks, and watching sport, and religiously attended mass at St. John’s. You would often her grandchildren how they were in polish and singing, “You are my Sunshine”.

May you rest in peace dear mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

A special thank you to all who cared for our mother over the last 12 years.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 15, 2025 at St. John Catholic Church, Edgar. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services all at the church. A meal with follow the mass giving friends and family an opportunity to share memories of mom. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Edgar is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com