Gloria was born October 26, 1926 in Brainerd to Clarence and Clare (De Rocher) Van Essen. She grew up in Brainerd and graduated from Brainerd High School in 1944. She attended Carlton College in Northfield, Minnesota, later she transferred to the University of Minnesota where she earned degrees in Nursing and Zoology. She was a lifelong Nurse, working at the University of Minnesota and later as a school nurse in the St. Louis Park School District. In the 1950s and 1960s she and her mother did extensive world travel visiting such cities as Bagdad, Beijing, and Cairo. She loved all animals. Gloria lived in Minneapolis until retiring to her hometown of Brainerd. She moved to Harmony in 2013 where she first lived at the Clara House.
Gloria is survived by a niece: Barbara (Jeff) Soma of Harmony; three nephews: Michael (Donna) Wolsted of Minneapolis, John Van Essen of Minneapolis and Mark Van Essen of Brainerd; also survived by several grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Marcie (Van Essen) Wolsted and one brother, William Van Essen.
Gloria was born October 26, 1926 in Brainerd to Clarence and Clare (De Rocher) Van Essen. She grew up in Brainerd and graduated from Brainerd High School in 1944. She attended Carlton College in Northfield, Minnesota, later she transferred to the University of Minnesota where she earned degrees in Nursing and Zoology. She was a lifelong Nurse, working at the University of Minnesota and later as a school nurse in the St. Louis Park School District. In the 1950s and 1960s she and her mother did extensive world travel visiting such cities as Bagdad, Beijing, and Cairo. She loved all animals. Gloria lived in Minneapolis until retiring to her hometown of Brainerd. She moved to Harmony in 2013 where she first lived at the Clara House.
Gloria is survived by a niece: Barbara (Jeff) Soma of Harmony; three nephews: Michael (Donna) Wolsted of Minneapolis, John Van Essen of Minneapolis and Mark Van Essen of Brainerd; also survived by several grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Marcie (Van Essen) Wolsted and one brother, William Van Essen.
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