Gloria A. Stremlau, 94, of Mendota IL passed away at Liberty Village in Peru, Illinois on Thursday, December 26, 2024.  She was born October 16, 1930 and Freeport Illinois to Ervin and Emma Nelson. She married Jerome Stremlau on November 26, 1949 in Sts Peter and Paul Catholic Church.  They were blessed with five children, Beth A (David) Doran of Lebanon, Indiana, Diane M. (Lloyd) Chapman of Ottawa, Illinois,  Steven A. (Karen) Stremlau of Mendota, Illinois, Kevin F (Luanne) Stremlau of Peoria, Illinois and  Alan J (Misty) Stremlau of Tonica Illinois. 12  grandchildren - Michael Doran, Bridget Doran, Craig Renz, Kyle, Kurt, Kory and Konner Stremlau, Stacy Sparks, Melissa Perschall, Janelle Lewis, Sarah Angelos, Austin Stremlau; 16 Great Grandchildren and 2 Great Great Grandchildren.

She worked at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Peru, Illinois for 22 years as a Certified Dietary Manager. Gloria was a convert to the Catholic faith. She was a Eucharistic minister at church and to the homebound.  She was a member of the Altar Society at Sts Peter and Paul.  She helped establish the "Teens Encounter Christ" program and was Lay Director for numerous years . She was an avid supporter of the Cursillo movement and was kitchen chairperson for numerous years.  Including the Cursillo Prison Ministry, she was an advocate for the Prolife movement, Prayer Chain,  St Bede Abbey Oblates.  She organized the "We Are The Church" program, the Peterstown Homecoming Program, "See You At The Pole" program and member of the Diocesian Council of Catholic Women receiving the Pere Marquette Award from the Peoria Diocese. She was a volunteer at the Abigail Pregnancy Outreach Center and was a volunteer at Nightingale's Closet in Mendota and at Mendota Hospital. She was her husband's caregiver for five years and following his death she traveled to many world destinations. No matter what she was involved in, her family, children and grandchildren received priority. She was proceeded in death by her husband, Jerome, parents, Ervin and Emma Nelson and brother, Duane Nelson.

Public visitation will be held 2:00-5:00 PM, Sunday, December 29, 2024 at the Horner-Merritt Funeral Home in Mendota, IL.  Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 AM, Monday, December 30th at Sts Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Peterstown, IL.  Burial will follow at Sts Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery.  Visit www.horner-merritt.com for online guestbook.    Memorials can be made to Abigail Pregnancy Center, Illinois Valley Cursillo, or Peterstown "Teens Encounter Christ" program.