Gloria Helen (Tow) Ruschmeyer, 93, died Oct. 28, 2021. She was born July 22, 1928, in Lauderdale.
Gloria attended Murray High School. Upon graduation, she worked for the War Department in Washington, D.C., in the secretarial pool during WWII. She returned to Minnesota in 1946 and enrolled in the University of Minnesota in 1947.
She was accepted to the College of Medical Sciences and completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 1952. She met her future husband, Orlando Ruschmeyer, in a University chemistry class.
They were married at Como Park Lutheran Church on Sept. 7, 1951, and just celebrated 70 years of marriage this year.
Gloria’s entire career was as registered nurse at the University of Minnesota Hospital. She was a longtime worker on the OB/GYN unit, eventually made the charge nurse.
She and Orlando made their home in Lauderdale, just a block from where she was raised. Gloria was an active member and supporter of the local PTA, League of Women Voters, Memorial Day Poppy Sale, the choral group “The Lauderdale Mother Singers” and her church, Rose Hill Christian Missionary Alliance.
Gloria was preceded in death by her husband Orlando; her parents, Raymond and Elsie (Nelson) Tow; sister Dolores (Rev. Berdell Digerness); brothers-in-law, David Beck and Roger Peterson; sister-in-law Darnelle (Dr. Samuel Hendrix).
She is survived by daughter Ann Donovan (Lawrence); son James; sister Virginia Carlson (Ralph); and sisters-in-law Donna Mills (James), Elna Mae Peterson and Nancy Ann Peterson (Steve).
A celebration of Gloria’s life was held Nov. 8 at Sunset Funeral Home.
