Gloria L. (Kanne) Pommerenke

Gloria LaVonne Pommerenke of Waseca passed away in her home as a result of a fall on June 7th, 2017.  She was 90, striving to live everyday to its fullest.  Gloria loved life, and most of all, people.

Surrounded by extended family, Gloria grew up in Faribault and Morristown, MN, graduating from Morristown High School in 1946.  In her youth she enjoyed playing the piano, being the school bass drummer, and singing solos in church.  She delivered newspapers and groceries to earn pocket money. 

Upon graduation, she and her best friend attended the Minneapolis School of Business, where Gloria attained a certificate in bookkeeping.  Her first job was at the National Land Building Association in Northfield, MN.  With its closure she moved to Waseca, where she was employed at Supersweet Feeds, Waseca Mutual Insurance Company, E.F. Johnson Company, Montgomery Ward, and Minnegasco for varying lengths of time, always working in bookkeeping and customer service roles.  Gloria was proud of her ability to cordially relate to people of diverse backgrounds, a skill she professed developing through her years of customer service work.

In 1951, Gloria eloped with Raymond W. Pommerenke of Waseca.  Despite buying a home in Waseca and intending to live with her husband, Gloria hid her marriage from her employer, hoping to keep her job that required she be single.  She was exposed after just a month and needed to resign.  With the births of her two daughters, Gloria stepped down from full-time work to become more actively engaged in family and community activities.  She served as a Girl Scout and 4-H leader, enjoyed Extension Homemaker programs and Sewing Club with her friends, and participated in Child Study Club and school PTA. The United Methodist Church was her spiritual foundation and where she enjoyed singing with the choir for many years.

After the girls left home, Gloria and Ray traveled the U.S. to visit and vacation with them.  Gloria loved expanding her horizons, discovering the treasures of the world, and sharing her experiences with others.  She especially loved tasty new foods and cookbooks. Countless conversations revolved around the details of her culinary adventures.  Following Ray’s death in 2013, Gloria took more frequent and extended trips with family, visiting Alaska, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and her favorite, Sanibel Island, in Florida.  Around the Waseca area, she could be seen helping friends and participating in numerous community activities.  Gloria was always vibrantly waiting for tomorrow’s adventure.

Preceded in death by her husband Ray, brother Marvin Kanne, and parents Mark and Edna Kanne, Gloria is survived by two daughters, Brenda A. Pommerenke (Larry George) of Arlington, VA, and Lori L. Pommerenke of Waseca, and four grandchildren,

A celebration of Gloria’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 18 at Faith United Methodist Church, 801-4th Avenue NE, Waseca, with visitation at the church one hour prior to the service.  Plenty of good food and cookbooks will be available for all!

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