April 9, 1951 – April 20, 2021

Glady Gerdes-Mesman, 70, of Sioux Falls, S.D., passed away Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.  Her funeral service was Saturday, April 24, 10 a.m. at First Christian Reformed Church, Sioux Falls. Burial was at Pleasant View Cemetery, Valley Springs, S.D.

Gladys Mae Vis was born on April 9, 1951, to Arie and Jennie (Vos) Vis at Luverne, Minn. Glady attended Leota Christian Grade School, Leota, Minn., through 8th grade and graduated from Southwest Christian High School, Edgerton, Minn., in 1969. She was baptized and made public profession of faith at the Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota.

Following high school graduation, Glady attended the Pipestone, Minn., Vocational School where she graduated with a secretarial degree.  She worked at the Sather Cookie Company in Round Lake, Minn., where she met her husband, Jerry Gerdes. They were married on August 17, 1973, at Leota. They made their home in Sioux Falls where they raised their four children, Jason, Jeffrey, Derek, and Chelsea. In addition to being a wife and mother, Glady did daycare and helped her husband and children with custodial work at Calvin Christian Grade School for 8-1/2 years. In 1983, she began working for First Christian Reformed Church, Sioux Falls, and retired from there in April, 2016.

Glady’s faith and confidence were found in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Everyone who knew Glady could see Christ’s light and her love for the Lord in her every action. Her life testimony was an encouragement and inspiration to others by sharing that her joy and hope were found in Christ alone, even and especially during her struggles. Glady’s deepest prayer was that through her life, others’ faith could be encouraged and built up as well. One of her spiritual gifts was the ability to listen well and point others to the hope she shared. She believed fully that to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Glady ran her race well, and we are confident God welcomed her home saying “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Glady’s husband, Jerry Gerdes, was unexpectedly called to his Heavenly home on September 2, 2009, after 36 years of marriage. On June 1, 2012, she was united in marriage with Les “Ike” Mesman.

Glady’s greatest joy in life was helping others. She loved people! She taught VBS, Children’s Church, GEMS, Coffee Break, MOPS Mentor Mom and was a Stephen Minister since 2009. As a mother, Glady loved going and supporting her children in their activities and the schools they attended. As a grandmother, she was known as “Grandma, Abuelita, and Hotda” and loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Glady was diagnosed with Polymyositis and Interstitial Lung Disease in 2006, resulting in Pulmonary Hypertension. In March 2021, she was also diagnosed with lung cancer. During the years until her death, Glady met and was cared for by many wonderful people through doctor visits and the infusions she had. Their love, concern and compassion made many difficult visits a blessing to her.

Thankful for having shared the past 9 years with her husband, Les (Ike) Mesman, Glady will also be missed by their children and grandchildren, Jason and Shana Gerdes and Alliana, Sioux Falls, Jeff and G Gerdes and Izzy, Worthing, S.D., Derek and Jamie Gerdes and Boston, Brigham, Bronx and Blayke, Sioux Falls, Tim and Chelsea Eisenga and Jeremiah, Grace, Adriel and Caleb, Zuni, N.M., Diane and Dave Stansberry and Michael and Matthew, Brooklyn Park, Minn., Lance and Michele Mesman and Ellie, Cameron and Olivia, Waukee, Iowa, Kevin Mesman, Paula Mesman and Lindsey, Landon and Colin, Sioux Falls, and Dr. Glenn Mesman, Little Rock, Ark. Glady also leaves behind seven siblings, Marge and John Prins, Modesto, Calif., Garv and Bonnie Vis, Leota, Verla and Duane Mulder, Prinsburg, Minn., Orv and Judy Vis, Leota, Diane and Harlan Spronk, Edgerton, Arla and Tom Bouma, Edgerton, Denny and Lonna Vis, Leota; two brothers-in-law, John Talsma, Edgerton, Ron Gerdes, Valley Springs, S.D.; two sisters-in-law, Muriel Walhof, Edgerton, Joann Van Dam, Escondido, Calif.; many nieces, nephews, extended relatives and friends.

In addition to her husband, Jerry, Glady was preceded in death by her parents, Arie and Jennie Vis; her sister, Joanne Talsma; an infant sister; her parents-in-law, Fred and Marion Gerdes; her brother-in-law, Bern Walhof; and her sister-in-law, Mary Gerdes.