Gladys V. Pfeifer, 88, Victoria, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at HaysMed.
She was born September 28, 1935 in Victoria, Kansas, the daughter of George and Wilhelmina (Roth) Wellbrock. She graduated from Victoria High School in 1953 and was the school’s first homecoming queen in 1951. Gladys married Norman Dale Pfeifer in 1956 and raised a family of five children. As a self-taught seamstress, she made all the dresses in her wedding. She enjoyed playing cards and building puzzles with family and friends, playing pranks with her sister Arlene and watching the KC Royals. Gladys traveled around the world for over 20 years supporting her husband’s military duty, was the church organist at The Basilica of St. Fidelis for 24 years and a para-professional at Munjor and Catherine schools for more than 10 years until her retirement in 1999. She was a member of The Basilica of St. Fidelis, St. Fidelis Daughters of Isabella, St. Fidelis Christian Mothers, VFW Post #1751 Ladies Auxiliary and proud military spouse. Her love and passion for music and children showed through her accompanist work with many vocalists and musicians, participation in the community band, orchestral engagements with Sweet and Sour Krauts and numerous Kansas day celebrations.
Survivors include her husband of the home, five children: Geralyn Windholz of Leawood, Steven (Carol) Pfeifer of Victoria, James (Sharla) Pfeifer of Bel Aire, Kimberly Pfeifer of Bel Aire, Alan (Joni) Pfeifer of Newton, two sisters, Mary Mirkovich of Bainbridge Island, WA and Rosann Welser of Bettendorf, IA, a brother-in-law, Albert R. Pfeifer of Victoria, two sisters-in-law, Marlene Wellbrock of Bainbridge Island, WA and Joan Wellbrock of Victoria, 19 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, stepmother, Mary Wellbrock, two brothers, Varian and Eugene Wellbrock, one sister, Arlene Pfeifer, and two brothers-in-law, Arthur Mirkovich, and Hal Welser.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at the Basilica of St. Fidelis, with Fr. James Moster, OFM Cap. officiating. Burial will follow in St. Ann Cemetery in Walker. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Monday and from 9:00 am until service time on Tuesday, all at the Basilica. A vigil service will be at 6:00 pm followed by a combined Daughters of Isabella, Christian Mothers, and VFW Ladies Auxiliary rosary at 6:30, all on Monday at the Basilica. Memorials are suggested to A Different Mindset Association. Services are in the care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. Condolences and memories of Gladys may be left for her family at www.haysmemorial.com