Gladys D. Hernke

Gladys Darlene Hernke, age 93, of Cannon Falls, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, at Our Lady of Peace Hospice Care, on January 8, 2025.

Gladys was born to Martin and Anna (Stueland) Swelland on Feb. 8, 1931, in Kenyon, MN. She graduated from Kenyon High School, where she sang in the school choir. She attended the Lutheran Bible Institute of Golden Valley. After being there two years, she met Owen Hernke. His dad, Alvin Hernke, was building the Edgewood Restaurant in Cannon Falls, so she began waitressing there. She and Owen (the love of her life) were married on June 6, 1953 at Hauge Lutheran Church in Kenyon. Together they raised seven children. Gladys worked at Windy Acres, and the Edgewood. She loved sports and going to events featuring her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her joy was her family. She also had a love for the outdoors. She enjoyed gardening, and growing beautiful flowers, as well as mowing the lawn. Gladys had a passion for making beautiful quilts for everyone. She loved playing the piano and the family would sing along with her. She loved gospel music. Also, she and Owen enjoyed traveling, both abroad and domestically. Gladys was an active member of Urland Lutheran Church. She participated in many church activities such as WELCA, sewing circle, and also enjoyed being a piano accompanist there.

Survivors include her children Gwen (Rick) Knowlton of Cannon Falls, Sheryl (Jim) Soule of Lakeville, Brenda (John) Quilling  of Cannon Falls, Sue (Jerry Mattson) Pallin of Roseville, Dale Hernke of Kenyon, David (Lisa Oelkers) Hernke of Cannons Falls, and Marc (Julie) Hernke of Cannon Falls; grandchildren Stacey (Aaron) Deutsch, Jason Knowlton, Jeffrey (Shannon) Soule, Jodi (Eric) Stuart, Nathan (Melanie) Hernke, Nicole (Brian) Hines, Heather Hernke, Ashlee (Jake) Koebler, Amanda (Jeff) Ziel, Stephanie (Logan Walsh) Hernke, Matthew (Emily) Hernke, and Brandon (Hannah) Hernke; great-grandchildren Alex and Ethan Deutsch, Casey Jeppeson, Caden Knowlton, Zachary, Ella, and Benjamin Soule, Lillian, Gavin, and Mackenzie Stuart, Blake, Luke, Ava, and Kyle Hernke, Harper, Lauren, and Iyla Hines, Lyla Koebler, Owen, Mack, and Charlie Hernke, Heath Hernke, and William, Vincent, and Persephone Walsh. She is further survived by her sister Jean Ann (Byron) Lindamen, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Gladys was preceded in death by her husband Owen, her son Mike, her parents Martin and Anna Swelland, her brothers Lincoln and Marvin, and her sisters Marie Gruse, Lillian Oelschlager, Norma Goldberg, Donna Mae Swelland, Vivian Peterson, and Delores Hammer.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at Urland Lutheran Church, 6940 Co. 9 Blvd, Cannon Falls, MN 55009. There will be a visitation one hour prior to the service at the Church. Interment will be in the Urland Lutheran Church Cemetery. Gladys’ funeral will be live streamed and may be viewed by clicking on the link below.

LIVESTREAM INFORMATION: For those who would like to participate in Gladys' service via livestream, you can watch the service on Wednesday, January 15th, at 11:00 am. It can be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of this page and click PLAY to begin. Please leave a message of support on our Tribute Wall to let the family know you were able to watch the service. If you are having troubles with the Livestream, the service will be available to watch later in the day.