Gladys A. "Gladie" Long

Appleton – Gladie Long, age ­­93, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 13, 2024, surrounded by all her children. She was born in Menasha WI, to Gerritt and Hyacinth (Sensenbrenner) Reimer. Gladie was pre-deceased by her best friend and husband of 63 years, Gerald (Jerry) Long.
Gladie is survived by her children, who all live in the Fox Cities: Laura Muinde, Julie Dobberstein (Doug), Gary Long (Jill), Jean Long Manteufel (Randy), Tom Long (Linda), Molly Hoffmann (Kirt), Diane Hinze (Joel "Horb"), and Beth Long (Chuck Gyrion); as well as 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
Gladie was preceded in death by her parents, her mother-in-law Alice Long, and her sisters Dorothy (Ed) Backus, Ruth (Gaulden) Smith and Val (Joe) Roemer, as well as many in-laws.
Gladie graduated from Saint Mary's High School in Menasha. She and Jerry met on the way to a Don Bosco dance, and they shared a life of laughter for decades after. In 1960, she and Jerry started A-1 Cartage, which later became A-1 Moving & Storage and carries on today with the next generations. They also owned Northern Moving & Storage. As agents for Global Van Lines, they traveled around the hemisphere to conventions, making friends everywhere they went.
For many years, Gladie and Jerry enjoyed escaping to Florida. Naples and Ft. Myers Beach, FL were their home in the winters, where they often found themselves surrounded by 30 or 40 friends and relatives who stayed in the same area.
Gladie's family were her friends, and her friends were her family. She and Jerry loved hosting get-togethers and sharing laughter. They played games with the in-laws at the cottage, attended Tinsel Balls, shared volunteer work with many groups like the Jaycees and Jaycettes and the Appleton Elks. They hosted get-togethers in Florida. They had a great time.
Gladie's greatest joy was spending time with her children and grandchildren. She gave her children the gift of seeing the beauty of nature. She loved taking pictures and was a fantastic artist. We all value the artwork that she gave us. We also share an inside joke that we each are her favorite.
In the last few years, Gladie lived at Touchmark. Every day, she could be heard saying, "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else!" Thanks, Touchmark staff for all the fun you shared with Mom. She thought the world of all of you.
To our sister, Julie, thank you so much for all your extra care for Mom.
A Funeral Mass for Gladie will be on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 312 S. State St., Appleton WI. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 10:45 am with the Funeral Mass starting at 11:00 a.m. Burial will take place at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Appleton.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is established at Children's Wisconsin.
We love you, Mom, and we will cherish our memories forever. Love, Favorite Laura, Favorite Julie, Favorite Gary, Favorite Jean, Favorite Tom, Favorite Molly, Favorite Diane, and Favorite Beth.