Gloria June Neuenschwander

Gloria June Neuenschwander died November 12, 2012 at the Long Term Care Center in Hoxie, Kansas. Gloria June Simpson was born June 27, 1925 in East St. Louis, Illinois to Anna Viola Warren and Emmett Robert Simpson. Gloria attended college at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a BS degree in Chemistry. There she met her future husband, John. Upon her graduation, she worked at Mallinckrodt Chemical Company. Gloria and John Rapp Neuenschwander were married September 22, 1946 in the Zion United Church of Christ parsonage near Mt. Vernon, Missouri. She continued working while John completed his MD degree at Washington University. They moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1951 for Dr. John’s medical internship. In 1952 the family moved to Hoxie where they have made their home for sixty years and raised their five children. Gloria’s greatest investment was in her family. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was very active in the children’s school events, frequently hauling many children in her car to sporting and scholastic events. She was also active in Boy and Girl Scouts. Gloria was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church and served in many areas. She was an ordained Elder, served on Session many terms, was elected Moderator of Northern Kansas Presbytery, and attended General Assembly, 1985 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Gloria was an active member in Mary and Martha women’s group, and in Mariners. Gloria and Dr. John sponsored the Youth Group which was responsible for starting Christmas Eve services at Hoxie Presbyterian Church. Gloria was an accomplished seamstress, sewing much of the clothing for her growing family. She even managed to keep the girls’ dolls in high fashion and handed down her sewing skills to her daughters. She also appliquéd and quilted many beautiful quilts for her children and grandchildren. Gloria enjoyed family activities that have become annual events. She purchased a 25 gallon copper kettle in 1981 for cooking apple butter over an open fire each fall. The family hunted each winter and Gloria prepared many wonderful meals for the hunters. After hunting season she was always involved in making smoked venison sausage with the family. Gloria helped with gardening and enjoyed cooking and canning. She readily served what was harvested, fished and hunted, creating recipes that ranged from snapping turtle soup to roast bear. Gloria’s cooking always made Sunday noon meals a special time for family and friends. Her expansive kitchen table insured that she could always welcome whoever walked into her home during mealtime. Gloria is survived by her husband, John; three sons, John Rand (Sylvia), James (CeeAnn), and Karl (Lu) Neuenschwander; two daughters, Daren (Steve) Archer, and Ronna (Wagué) Diakité; ten grandchildren, Lori, Cindy, Dena, Bowe and Katelin Neuenschwander, Matt (Lindsay) and Mark Archer, Jamie (James) Scott, Penda and Amina Diakité. Gloria was preceded in death by her parents and a granddaughter, Anne Naomi Archer.