Gloria Flanigan, age 78, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died on Monday, January 1, 2007 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

Funeral services Mrs. Flanigan will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 5, 2007 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake.  Reverend Bruce Lawler will serve as celebrant of the Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Storm Lake.  The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Friends may call after 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 4, 2007 at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, where the family will be present from 6:00-8:00 p.m.  A Legion of Mary Rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. and a parish vigil service held at 7:30 p.m., both at the funeral home. 

Gloria Ann Porath was born April 5, 1928 to Clarence Carl and Gladys Ellen (Tweddale) Porath in Newell, Iowa.  Gloria attended grade schools in Varina, Newell and Fonda before graduating from Storm Lake High School with the Class of 1946.

On July 3, 1948, Gloria was united in holy matrimony to John Joseph “Jack” Flanigan in Storm Lake. The couple was blessed with six children: Susan, Trish, Tom, Terry, Tim and Gary.  Gloria enjoyed an active life caring for her young family. She later worked as a housekeeper at Methodist Manor in Storm Lake until her retirement in 2002.

Gloria was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake and the V.F.W. Auxiliary. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting and liked to go for a drive to see the countryside.  She was an avid bingo player and liked to take a trip to the casinos now and then.  A night with family and friends playing cards was one of her favorite pastimes.  Above all, she treasured her family and the time she spent with them.  Gloria will be missed dearly by her family and friends.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Trish Peterson of Alta, Iowa; son Tom (Peg) Flanigan of Lakeside, Iowa; son Terry (Sheila) Flanigan of Storm Lake; son Tim (and friend Kim) Flanigan of Des Moines, Iowa; and son Gary (Nancy) Flanigan of Aplington, Iowa; 20 grandchildren: Tami, Chad, Johnny, Gary, Shawn, Dave, Terry, Traci, Hollie, Mindy, Christy, Stacy, Cory, Tia, Tyler, Ian, Morgan, Meghan, Ann Marie and Jack; 21 great-grandchildren; one brother, Dean (Lois) Porath of San Antonio, Texas; one sister, Ramona (Lowell) Main of Angel Camp, California; a sister-in-law, Mary Agnes Flanigan of Storm Lake; extended family and a host of friends.

Gloria was preceded in death by her parents; her stepfather, Irving Hanson; her husband, Jack; her daughter, Susan; and her sister, Mabel June Hildebrand.