Gladys (Sasse) du Mée of Marion, age 100, passed on to be with the Lord Jesus Christ on July 1,
in Peoria, Arizona, where she was living with her son and daughter-in- law, Jack (Jr.) and Patty du Mée, since June 2020.
She was the first of nine children born to Benjamin and Olga (Hoffmann) Sasse, in Antigo, Wisconsin. Gladys was an adventurous spirit and loved to travel. The day after graduation from Clintonville High School, she left for Milwaukee with her good friend, Margie Schmitz. There she met the love of her life, Jack du Mée, at an Eagles dance on her birthday. It was love. In World War II, Jack was a Navy transport pilot. Gladys worked for Allis-Chalmers, military supplier. Gladys & Jack married in Atlanta in 1943. They traversed the country with Jack’s squadron – VA, FL, CA, ME – Gladys making a home & working while Jack flew the globe. After the war, they renewed their WI roots, had three wonderful (!) children: Jack, Cheri & Bill (born in MD), all “good travelers” who never gave them any trouble (!!). When Jack Sr. was called up again, Gladys crossed the Atlantic with Jack Jr. (6) & Cheri (4) to meet him in Malta and see Europe. Next, they entered the hotel/apt. management business, had Bill in MD & crossed the country again, settling in Miami Beach/Miami. Later, Jack switched to the grocery business, becoming a 7-11 franchise owner. They raised their family in Miami, never forgetting their WI roots as they welcomed WI family, drove back to WI for vacations, & astounded everyone when they left the Sunshine State to retire in Marion! In retirement, they kept traveling regularly to AZ & FL & crossed the Pacific Ocean, to Figi & Bali with Robert & Pat du Mée.
Gladys was never afraid of doing the unexpected. Most importantly, she loved family, no matter what. She worked very hard throughout her life, to help support her family. She was a faithful daughter, wife, mother, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother & friend. She was an excellent bookkeeper & accountant for over 25 years with Prudent Property Management (FL), doing the books for eight corporations. She also liked to keep a home & wished she had more time at home. She loved to plan meals, cook & hang laundry. She baked the best apple & blueberry pies! All her life, she loved reading tremendously & suffered later in life when that wasn’t possible, due to macular degeneration. This love for books started at the original Clintonville Library on Main Street, & later she happily became a familiar face at the Marion Public Library, always a favorite place for all the du Mée’s! She also loved the bridge club, cards with family & Sequence. In retirement, she & Jack greatly enjoyed their children, spouses & grandchildren & gave them many, many memorable, fun times at Nettles Island, FL & in AZ & WI. She shared a special bond with her sisters, Betty June & Mary Ann, her loving daughter-in-laws, Patty & Madeline, her loving niece, Jill Romberg of Marion, & her close cousin, Bernetta (Zehren) Jenkins. She loved all her nieces & nephews. She remembered birthdays & could pick out just the right gift. She was known for being practical, which helped keep the family grounded. Some might call her strong-willed or stubborn!? She was funny & witty & shared wisdom through the many proverbs that guided her life, such as, “Into each life, some rain must fall.” She explained her cheerful outlook in three ways: 1) I faked it a lot; 2) I was taught in Lutheran school that God was taking care of me; 3) Every morning is like a fresh coat of sparkling snow at Grandma Hoffmann’s farm. You look out & there are no tracks in it, no mistakes, just a chance to start again. In her last years, her faith grew even more, & she depended more on Jesus as her Savior from sin & Helper. She loved to listen to gospel music, say the Lord’s Prayer & Ps. 23 with loved ones, & watch her great-grandchildren play. She won over the hearts of caregivers. Gladys was truly a blessed woman, and we were blessed beyond measure to have her with us so many years. She taught us by example to, “Take care of each other.” With full hearts, we say, “Thank You, Lord, for her life!” Philippians 1:21 “To live is Christ, to die is gain!”
She will be deeply missed by her sister and brother: Mary Ann Romberg & Merritt Sasse; by her three children & their spouses: Jack & Patty du Mée, Cheri du Mée, & Bill & Madeline du Mée; her six grandchildren & their spouses (& 14 great-grandchildren) : Jonathan & Nicole du Mée (Chase, Jewli, Emma), Matthew & Christy du Mée (Daniel, Sophie), Jeni & Jordan Johnson (Luke, Alora), Evan & Emily du Mée (Easton, Ellis, Eisley), Valerie & Ryan Domres (Colter, Nola, Kemp), Joy & Joseph Stein (Benjamin and one on the way).
She is preceded in death by many dear loved ones: her beloved husband of 65 years, her parents, five brothers and their spouses: Willard & Fae Sasse, Allen & Rosemary Sasse, Edward & Mary Sasse, Leslie & Betty Sasse, Arlen & Betty Sasse; one sister and her spouse, Betty June & Harry Millard; sister-in-law, Beverly (Merritt) Sasse; brother-in-law, Franklyn (Mary Ann) Romberg; nephew, Ross Romberg; nieces, Londa Della & Kathy Herritz; two precious ones who died in infancy: her brother, Earl Sasse, niece, Ritta Rae Romberg. The du Mée loved ones: father & mother-in-law, Jack & Ernestine du Mée, brother-in-law & spouse, Robert & Patricia du Mée; sisters-in-law, Erna & Sonja du Mée; nephew, Lawrence Evans.
Funeral Service will be held on Friday, August 19th at 11:00 AM at St. Martin Lutheran Church (Gladys’ church home) with Rev. Jason Zobel officiating. A luncheon will follow in the church hall and then burial will be at Graceland Cemetery, Clintonville. Visitation will be on Friday from 10:00 AM until time of service at the church. Beil-Didier Funeral Home, Clintonville, is assisting the family. Please go to www.beil-didier.com to sign the online guestbook or to leave a condolence for the family.
In lieu of flowers, Gladys requested that any gifts be sent to St. Martin Lutheran School (100 S. Clinton Ave., Clintonville 54929) which shaped the lives of Gladys and all the Sasse children. We are grateful.