Gladys Kugler

Gladys Laurel (White) Kugler of Franklin, Nebraska, was born October 31, 1931, on my father’s homestead, 15 miles north of Walsenburg, Colorado, in Huerfano County, to Roy and Madge (Reams) White. I was the 5th of 9 children.

When I was 5 years old, our family moved from the homestead to a home on Turkey Ridge. I attended Turkey Ridge School for 8 years. I was set to graduate from Turkey Ridge School on May 15. However, my brother Dan was killed in World War II. The family received notice of his death on the first of May, and because of this, I was not able to attend my 8th grade graduation. In those days, you did not go out in public when there was a death in the family.

The next fall, I began Huerfano County High School. During the Christmas of my freshman year, Huerfano County had a big blizzard. The family could not get out and I could not get to Walsenburg to go to school. So the following year, I had to start high school again as a freshman. The next Christmas, our family moved to Riverton, Nebraska. I graduated with the class of 1950 from Riverton School. I was the only one of nine children to graduate from high school.

The summer following my graduation, I began working at Naden’s Pharmacy in Franklin. There I met Elton Kugler. We were united in marriage, January 15, 1953, in Macon, Nebraska.

This union was blessed with three wonderful children, Lyn LeRoy, Connie Jean and Dean Alfred. Elton owned and operated the Ford Tractor business in Franklin for many years until his health began to fail, and when my father passed away, his farm came up for sale. Elton and I bought the farm and moved a house onto it, as the farmhouse was gone.

I loved it out on the farm on Thompson Creek, where we lived for 24 years. Then, Elton and I sold the farm to our son, Lyn, and in 1996, moved back to Franklin. Elton passed away in November, 1998.

I worked at the Franklin Hospital when my children were young. After moving to the farm, I worked at Gala Gardens in Inavale, Nebraska, and Grandview Manor in Campbell, Nebraska. After Elton’s death, I worked at the Senior Center in Franklin.

I was a Goldstar Sister of the American Legion and also the VFW, and a life-long member of the Franklin County Historical Society. I was a member of the Rebekah Lodge for over 5 years. That is where I met my friend and companion, Irvin Gettys.

I leave in passing, my children, Lyn Kugler, of Riverton, Nebraska, Connie and husband Marvin Parker, of Campbell, Nebraska, and Dean Kugler, of Papillion, Nebraska; 8 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren – Corey Doles and son – Gavin and Tracey Townes and daughter – Glory; Heather and husband, Ted Evans and sons – Silas and baby in June; Evonne and husband, Jon Keck and daughters – Mayson and Quinn; Jordan Kugler; Meghan Kugler; Jodi and husband, Joseph Dowden, daughter, Jayde, and sons – Gabriel Dowden, Joshua and wife, Tejay Dowden and great-great-daughters – Parker and Jo; and ; Jason and wife, Erin Parker; my brother, Tom White of Cawker City, Kansas; and my sister, Madge Bennett of Glen Elder, Kansas.

I was preceded in death by my husband Elton Kugler; my father and mother; 3 brothers; 3 sisters; and one daughter-in-law, Joyce Kugler.

Mrs. Gladys Laurel (White) Kugler, died Saturday, April 28, 2018, at the Mary Lanning Hospital, Hastings, Nebraska at the age of 86 years, 5 months, and 27 days.

Celebration of life service for Gladys Laurel Kugler will be (was) Friday, May 4, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Franklin, Nebraska, with Pastor Philip Sloat officiating. Interment will be (was) in the Greenwood Cemetery, Franklin, Nebraska. Visitation will be- Wednesday, May 2, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon, and Thursday, May 3, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Hutchins Funeral Home Home. The family will be (did) receive friends, Thursday, May 3, 2018 at the Hutchins Funeral Home, Franklin, Nebraska from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The family suggests memorials to First United Methodist Church, Franklin, Nebraska or the American Legion Auxiliary Post No.209, Franklin, Nebraska. Hutchins Funeral Home, Franklin, Nebraska, was in charge of arrangements.