Gloria Ann Elmore

Gloria Ann Elmore, 93, of Indianola, Iowa went to be with her Savior on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at Mercy Medical Center, Des Moines.

Gloria was born October 20, 1931, in Des Moines, Iowa, the oldest daughter of Albert and Anna (Nichols) Howard. She attended McKinley and Oak Park Elementary Schools, Warren Harding Middle School, and North High School in Des Moines, Iowa, graduating in 1949. Upon completing high school, Gloria went to work in finance at Banker's Life Company.

On July 18, 1959, Gloria and Jim married at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Des Moines. Their oldest son Matt was born in 1961. Their second son Marty was born in 1964. Their youngest daughter Jayma was born in 1968. Jim and Gloria started their married life in Carlisle in 1959, then moved to Des Moines in 1963. In 1965, they moved to Elkhart, IA, wanting a smaller community, before sending their oldest off to school. They spent the next 37 years there and were greatly involved in their community and church, attending Elkhart Christian Church and establishing the Elkhart Cemetery Association during those years.

Gloria worked at State Finance Company, later Dial Finance, for 15 years, and then decided to spend a few years at home with her small children. She later returned to work and spent the last nineteen years of her career at McClung Grain, where she loved working walking distance to home and working with farmers every day, as their office manager. Farmers trusted Gloria and she was smart and good at her work. Gloria was always hard working, working full time, caring for her husband and three children, she still found time to sew, garden, can vegetables for the year, and attend her children's events - FFA, speech and drama, and athletics. Gloria was a wonderful cook and loved to prepare meals for her friends and family. Jim and Gloria loved antiquing and could often be found on the weekends at an auction.

In 2001, Gloria retired and Jim and Gloria moved to Indianola to be closer to grandchildren. They loved to play bridge and were in several bridge groups as a couple, as well as individually. Gloria was active in Questers, the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), and Indianola Presbyterian Church throughout her retirement. She loved attending the grandchildren's baseball, basketball, and football games and was always in the front row cheering them on. She was a wonderful and caring caregiver for Jim, as his body began to age. After Jim's death in 2014, she did more travel with different groups and even left the country for the first time. She loved sports, all things Iowa State and Chicago Cubs and while she was still active, attended a Chicago Cubs game every year. Gloria spent the last five years of her life living at Vintage Hills in Indianola and attending Grace Church in Indianola the last few years, where she made many friends around her, like she had done throughout her life.

Gloria is survived by her son Matthew Elmore and his wife Liz Gray, her son Martin Elmore, and her daughter Jayma Sandquist and her husband Russell; her grandchildren Bill Gray, Lindsey Bembli, Keanan (Sarah) Elmore, August (Lexi) Sandquist, Graham (Keely) Sandquist, Berkley (Amaya) Sandquist, and Wilson (Faith) Sandquist; her great grandchildren - Kaydence, Deklan, and Rylee Elmore; Shepherd, Eden, and Olive Sandquist; Rowan, Stratton, and Emma Sandquist; her sister Gail (Bob) Freie. She was preceded in death by her husband Jim, her sister Glady, and her parents.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 12, 2025, at Grace Church, 108 N. Jefferson in Indianola, followed by a luncheon. Family members will greet friends one hour prior to services. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Elkhart Cemetery in Elkhart, IA.

Memorial contributions can be made to Elkhart Christian Church, Elkhart Cemetery Association, or the Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship Fund.