Gloria VanLaanen

Gloria Mae VanLaanen, 84 of Iron Mountain, passed away on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at Freeman's Nursing and Rehabilitation Community in Kingsford. She was born on March 10, 1927 in Highland park, Michigan, daughter of the late Arthur and Mae (Tapper) Mars. She attended the Kingsford schools, graduating from Kingsford High School in 1945. She married John E. VanLaanen Jr. on June 29, 1946 in Iron Mountain, and he preceded her in death on August 13, 1978. Gloria worked as a Nurses Aid and a Physical Therapy Aid at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital for more than 20 years, retiring in 1987. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford where she was very active on the funeral committee, prayer chain, Circle, bible study, and greeter. She was also a member of the Iron Mountain-Kingsford Women's Club and Oak Crest Golf Club. She was an a avid golfer, and made her first hole in one the first year she played golf. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, reading, tv game shows, traveling, and Gardening. She loved her dog, Buddy. Gloria was preceded in death by a daughter, Regina "Gina" Patt; an infant daughter; a sister, Carole Stewart; a grandson, Bradley Halik; a granddaughter, Lisa (Rob) Green; 2 infant grandsons; and a dear friend, Pat Ellingson. Gloria is survived by a son, Daniel VanLaanen of Montgomery, IL; daughters, Barbara Brown of LaCrosse, WI and Laura (Jim) Kmiec of Naperville, IL; a brother, Gerald Mars of Calumet; nine grandchildren, Meredith and Leslie Patt, Eric Halik, Valerie (Mike) Young, Tiffany (Curt) Jerome, Brenda (Tim) Zillmer, Jennifer (Scott) Catey, Jimmie and John Kmiec; eight great grandchildren Jordan and Colin Zillmer, Sydney and Noah Green, Natalie, Amanda and Ryan Catey, and Cillian Peterson. Visitation will be held on Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home, and on Saturday from 10:00am to 11:00am at the First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford. The funeral service will follow at 11:00am at the church. Rev. Michael March will officiate. Burial will be in the Quinnesec Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her memory to the First Presbyterian Church. Condolences to the family of Gloria VanLaanen may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.

Gloria VanLaanen

January 24, 1928 - January 24, 2012