Gloria F. Vaughn

Gloria Florence (Papka) Vaughn, age 96, of Bloomer, went to her heavenly home on April 27, 2025.

Gloria was born on March 21, 1929, to Foster and Henrietta (Behrend) Papka, on her grandparents farm near Brookings, SD. She was baptized on April 21, 1929 and confirmed on May 21, 1944. Her family moved to a farm north of Watertown, SD, where she attended school in one tiny room, 3 miles from the farm. Gloria spent her days as a real cowboy, riding horses, doing farm chores and even house work.

Gloria met a young man, Henry Vaughn from Arkansas in 1944. While WWII was raging, Henry completed basic training for the Army and they were married on May 2, 1945, at her family farm. Henry came home and the first thing they did was go to his Mom in Arkansas and Gloria discovered a whole wonderful new family. Together they had a daughter, Karen and a son, Bill. They were farmer in South Dakota until 4 years of drought made them decide to look at other places. New adventures took them to Minnesota Michigan and back to South Dakota, always farming. They finally ended up near Bloomer, WI when they bought a dairy farm in 1980.

Gloria belonged to Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Bloomer, was on many church committees, taught Sunday school, and was Ladies Aid President. She served on the election board, school board, president of the PTA, and American Legion Auxiliary. Gloria was also a den mother and 4-H club leader. One of her proudest accomplishments was being one of the six women who started the Bloomer food pantry and continued to volunteer her time with that for 16 years. She also enjoyed reading, writing stories and poems, riding horses, swimming, sky diving, fishing, and hunting pheasants. Her favorite bible passage was "God is love" and she always thought God gave her more than her share of love in her life.

Gloria is survived by her son: Bill Vaughn; daughter: Karen (Lewie) Scherff; five grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Foster and Henrietta Papka; husband of almost 70 years: Henry Vaughn in 2013; siblings: Darrel Papka and Margaret Charlton; and daughter-in-law: Alice Vaughn.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Bloomer. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Private interment will be at the Northern Wisconsin Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Spooner, WI.