Gladys K. Hron

Gladys Louise Hron (nee Kraemer) passed away on the morning of May 2nd 2024 after 98 fulfilling years.

Gladys was born on November 18, 1925, in Richfield, WI to Edward and Leona (nee Kasten) Kraemer on the kitchen table at the family homestead. Gladys grew up alongside her big sister Ruthe and her younger brother Gordon, helping “muma and daddy” on the farm. While her mother and father were away on their egg route in Milwaukee, Gladys and her siblings were tasked with watching over the farm, something she fondly recounted in her later years.

Gladys attended Rockfield’s one room schoolhouse, which she walked to with her siblings up until she attended West Bend Highschool. It is here where she would meet her future husband Raymond Hron, a kind and gentle man, with a witty sense of humor. Gladys caught his eye, and he would wait at the bottom of the stairs after school, hoping to get an opportunity to meet and talk with her, which with a little persistence, he did.

Ray would graduate one year ahead of Gladys in 1943 and was drafted directly in the United States Army during War World Two. He asked Gladys if he could write to her while he was away serving his country, she agreed and the two sent correspondence throughout the war until he was honorably discharged from the army in 1946.

Gladys graduated one year later in 1944 and waited for Ray to come home to her. Once he did, they continued their courtship until they got married on June 18th, 1949, at St. Peters Church in Jackson, WI. In 1951, with the help of Ray’s father George, Ray built Gladys a quaint little yellow brick house on Highway NN in West Bend where they would live together for nearly 60 years.

A prominent feature of their house was their extensive garden, which Gladys took a lot of pride in caring for, showing it off to friends and neighbors and using its bounty to provide food for her kitchen table and flowers and vegetables to exhibit at the county fair. Gladys was an excellent cook and enjoyed preparing meals and baking desserts, everything from a simple snack to full out holiday meal had Gladys’s full collection of cooking and baking talents behind it.

Together with Ray, they enjoyed bowling leagues and dancing, attending Ray’s army reunions, watching Badger football games at Camp Randall and traveling throughout the country particularly traveling to Montana and later California to visit her sister Ruthe and brother-in-law Harold. Gladys also was member of the Homemakers Clubs, Church Guild (St. Johns in West Bend) and worked as a pole worker for the town of Trenton.

Ray preceded Gladys in death in 2012 but she continued to live at home until medical issues of her own necessitated her move to the Lighthouse senior living center (since renamed New Perspective Senior Living). Life after Ray’s passing left a void in Gladys’ heart that was never really healed. As Gladys’ memory began to deteriorate, her love for him never did. Whenever the family gathered with Gladys she would always ask “where is Ray”. It was a question that was hard to answer but with her passing we believe she finally has an answer, he is waiting at the top of the steps of heaven hoping to catch the eye of his sweetheart and reunite with her again.

Gladys is survived by sisters in law Cheri Hron of West Bend and Karen Kraemer of Cedarburg along with nieces, nephews and other friends and relatives.

Gladys was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 63 years Raymond, her parents Edward and Leona Kraemer, her in-laws George and Edna (nee Fromm) Hron, her sister and brother-in-law Ruthe and Harold Schwamb, her brother Gordon Kraemer, her brothers and sisters in laws Edwin and Irene Hron, William and Margaret Hron, Sylvester and Mary Hron and Webster Hron.

VISITATION: Gladys’ family will greet relatives and friends at the Myrhum – Patten Funeral & Cremation Service, 1315 W. Washington Street, in West Bend, on Thursday, May 9, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

SERVICE: A service for Gladys will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home on Thursday with Rev. David Nieman officiating. Burial will take place on Friday, May 10, at 11:00 a.m. at Washington County Memorial Park in West Bend.

The family would like to thank her niece Michelle Jones and her nephew’s wife Cindy Hron for caring for Gladys while she was at home and taking care of her affairs while in assisted living.

The Myrhum – Patten Funeral & Cremation Service has been entrusted with Gladys’ arrangements. Additional information and guest book may be found at www.myrhum-patten.com.