June 27, 1941– April 3, 2023
Gladys Marie Reinschmiedt Pankratz, from Bessie, Oklahoma, was born June 27, 1941 and passed from this life on April 3, 2023. Gladys was married for 65 years to Dwayne until the passing on September 28, 2022. Gladys was raised on a farm North of Bessie, Oklahoma, by her immigrant parents, Wilhelm and Pauline Reinschmiedt, in a home of 9 siblings. She grew up attending Clinton High School until she married Dwayne on August 18, 1957, and finished her senior year at Cordell, Oklahoma.
Gladys and Dwayne planted their lives in Cordell living there until 2019 before they relocated to Oklahoma City to be closer to their boys. As a young couple they had two sons, Kirk and Steve. They were very active as members of the First Presbyterian Church for many years. Gladys worked in the early years at Kiwash Electric and Morris Accounting. She would also serve as the accountant for Pankratz Earthmoving (heavy equipment construction) and Greco Services (oilfield service). All the while she worked alongside her family in farming and ranching operation. In 1989, when Dwayne became the pastor of Grace Family Fellowship in Cordell, she would lead numerous responsibilities for the church. She became a real estate broker and owner of County Seat Real Estate.
Gladys had a life journey full of adventure from businesswoman to rancher/farmer to ministry. Her greatest joy was found in being a mother and grandmother. She was the boy’s first barber, the ranch chef delivering home-cooked meals to the boys working on the farms, the squaredancing partner to her husband, the amateur painting artist, the puzzle building enthusiast, the greatest cheerleader for her boy’s football teams, the church-loving friend, the community active parent, the very supportive sister and aunt and the always generous grandmother. Her grandkids loved to all come over at the same time to stay the night or weekend with “Nanny and Papa”.
Gladys was one of the most positive people you have ever met. Never the complainer and always the encourager, she was both gentle and rock solid in her stand for her family and friends. Friends would describe her as truly kind, sweet, caring and genuinely concerned for them.
Gladys came from a large family of 9 siblings and was the 3rd youngest. She loved her Reinschmiedt and Pankratz families and was always supportive as a sister and aunt. Gladys and Dwayne took dozens of trips to Branson, Missouri, where they loved the scenery and outdoors.
Gladys is preceded in death by her husband, Dwayne; her parents, Wilhelm and Pauline Reinschmiedt of Bessie, Oklahoma; her brothers, John (and Lillian) Reinschmiedt of Clinton, Oklahoma, Reuben Reinschmiedt of Clinton, Oklahoma, and Don Reinschmiedt of Los Angelos, California; her sisters, Vera (and Paul) Dick of Clinton, Oklahoma, Clara (and Jody) Ross of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Rosa (and Corky) Ross of Clinton, Oklahoma, and Edna (and Don) Howard of Cordell, Oklahoma; and her brother-in-law, Darwin Pankratz of Cordell.
Gladys is survived by her sons’ families, Kirk and Nancy Pankratz of Oklahoma City, and Steve and Kim Pankratz of Yukon, Oklahoma; her grandchildren, Tyler Pankratz of Los Angeles California; Chase Pankratz of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Natalie and Chandler Boyce of Ft. Worth, Texas; Grant Pankratz of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Megan and Jordan Wunder of Brooklyn, New York; Gretchin Scott of Norman, Oklahoma; Heather and Nate Kinney of Yukon, Oklahoma; and Samuel and Vona Karns of Moore, Oklahoma; her great-grandchildren, Naomi and Boston Pankratz; Vivienne Boyce; Jilian and Ariana Fox; Hannah, Lydia, Esther and Evangeline Kinney; and Walker Karns; her sister, Lilian (and John) Neumann of Van Nuys, California; her sisters-in-law, Juanita Reinschmiedt of Clinton, Oklahoma; Karen Pankratz of Cordell, along with many nieces and nephews.
Graveside services for Gladys will be Saturday, April 15, 11 a.m., at the Lawnview Cemetery in Cordell, Oklahoma.
Online condolences may be signed at www. yandafuneral.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Yanda & Son Funeral Home and Cremation Services.