Gloria Carpenter

Gloria Jeannine Carpenter, 92, died Wednesday afternoon, December 2, 2020 at Wellington Place in Decorah, IA. In consideration of concerns regarding Covid-19, there will be no immediate services and the family will have a private burial at a later date in Phelps Cemetery. Gloria was born October 31, 1928 in Albert Lea, MN. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1946. She enjoyed typing and shorthand in school and knew she wanted to be a secretary. Following graduation, she started working at Interstate Power Company as a secretary. During this time, she met Curt Carpenter who was a coworker. They were married June 18, 1950 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, MN. Gloria and Curt were blessed with two children, Susan and Mark. In October of 1955, Curt was transferred to Decorah, where Gloria lived the remainder of her years. Gloria was a homemaker. She volunteered her time at First Lutheran Church, Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, and also worked as an election official. She was active in church circle. Gloria enjoyed traveling with her husband and took numerous bus trips and even visited Norway three times where she was able to visit her grandmother’s birthplace. Her husband passed away in 2010 and daughter in 2012. In April of 2017, she became a resident of Wellington Place in Decorah. She enjoyed participating in activities at the nursing home and was even in bell choir. She was an avid reader and looked forward to working the crossword puzzle in the newspaper each day. Gloria is survived by her son Mark Carpenter (Diane Palmer) of Urbandale, IA; son-in-law Rev. Mark H. Miller of Davenport, FL; five grandchildren: Jennifer (Desi) Jimenez of Miami, FL; Brian (Joey) Miller of Papillion, NE; Kayla Carpenter of Brunssum, Netherlands; Rachel Carpenter of Cedar Falls, IA; and Cole Carpenter of Clive, IA, and 5 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father Robert Wohlhuter Sr., mother Martha Jorgenson Wohlhuter, brother Robert Wohlhuter Jr., husband Curtis H. Carpenter and daughter Susan D. Miller. Memorials may be given to the Decorah Community Food Pantry, 110 Railroad St., Decorah, IA 52101.