Gladys E. Temple

Gladys E. Temple

Gladys E. Georg Temple, long-time resident of Fort Dodge, Iowa, died on December 27, 2006 at the age of 100.  Mrs. Temple is well known as a special education teacher in the Fort Dodge School District.  She was instrumental in establishing Special Education programs in the State of Iowa and taught for many years in Fort Dodge.

Friends may visit on Monday, January 1 from 4-8 p.m. at the Bruce-Graham Funeral Home. Visitation also on Tuesday, 9:00-11:00 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

A Christian Funeral Service of thanksgiving to the Lord for the gift of Gladys will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 400 South13th Street on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. where she was an active member since 1941.  Internment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Gladys was born near Knierim, Iowa, in Calhoun County, on March 12, 1906, to John and Amelia (Hartwig) Georg. She was baptized that same year and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church near Rockwell City. She and her husband Harry Temple lived in and near Rockwell City until they moved to Fort Dodge in 1941.  She is survived by her three children, the Rev. Evan (Patricia) Temple of Sacramento, California;  Rita K. (William) Scott of Davison, Michigan; the Rev. John (Patricia) Temple of St. Louis, Missouri, and a sister, Wilma Georg of Milwaukee. Gladys is grandmother to 8 children and great-grandmother to 11.

Gladys became a part of countless families in her teaching career that began in a one room, eight grade country school when she was only 19 years of age.

She continued her schooling over the years and earned her last education degree from Drake University in 1958. Her love for teaching was carried on in her home where she did private tutoring.  This broadened into the community in various Fort Dodge schools as special education rooms were begun with the encouragement of Superintendent Carl Feelhaver.  She also taught special education confirmation classes at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

She has been a rich blessing to her family, her friends, and her pupils.  The many decades of learning, teaching and nurturing have been valuable to so many people and an honor to the Lord to whom her life was dedicated.

Bruce-Graham Funeral Home