Forever In the Hearts They Leave Behind

Gladys Paulson

May 17, 1913 – March 12, 2018


Paulson, Gladys Lillian Eleanor, 104, originally from Kirkland, Illinois and longtime resident of Barrington, passed away in Mesa, AZ on March 12, 2018. Gladys was born to Charles and Hannah Brandt on May 17, 1913. She loved her Lord Jesus Christ and lived her life demonstrating her devotion. Praying for family, friends and people in need was her daily routine.

In 1928, Gladys met her future husband Russell Burdett Paulson from Kirkland, Illinois. They were married on June 19, 1936. They moved to Barrington, Illinois where they lived for nearly 40 years and built a home on Russell Street. Russell worked at the First National Bank of Barrington, retiring in 1975 as Vice-President. They moved to Mesa, AZ because Russell loved to watch the Cubs in Spring Training. They traveled around the world in the 1970-80s seeing places such as Sweden, Israel, Russia, Greece, China, Japan, and India. Russell preceded Gladys in death in 2007, being married 71 years. Her sister, Hazel Johnson also preceded her in death in 2003. Gladys is survived by her daughter, Corynne Matteson (David) of Harlingen, Texas and son, Rev. Charles Paulson (Kathy) of Mesa, Arizona. She is also survived by three grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren, all living in Texas.

Gladys lived her faith through commitment to the Lutheran Church by supporting the planting of new churches, playing the organ and piano for church services, serving as superintendent of Sunday schools, and serving as Northern Illinois District Representative for the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. Gladys was a member of St Matthew Lutheran Church in Barrington, St Luke Lutheran and Hosanna Lutheran Church in Mesa, Arizona. Gladys loved to sew and quilt and had a small business providing alteration services. Gladys saw many changes in her life including the transition from horse and buggy to cars, from hand pumping water in the kitchen and an outhouse to running water and modern appliances. She learned to use a cell phone at 95 years old and drove a car safely at 100 years old. Gladys often said that before she started each day she asked the Lord to be with her and keep her safe and every night she thanked the Lord for his presence in her life.

A grave side service will be held at Mountain View Memorial Garden at 7900 East Main Street, Mesa, Arizona at 11 am Tuesday, March 27, for all family and friends. Gladys’s son, Rev. Charles Paulson and Rev. Paul Frank of Hosanna Lutheran Church will officiate. Memorials may be made to St Luke Lutheran Church or Hosanna Lutheran Church.

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  1. Judee Blaich says:

    We were so blessed to know Gladys and be a small part of her life. The strength of her faith was an inspiration to everyone who met her.
    She loved her Lord and He loved her.

  2. Kari Coppinger says:

    I always loved it when Aunt Gladys and Uncle Russell would visit my grandma Hazel in Kirkland. I enjoyed their laughter and I enjoyed watching Gladys and Hazel work together in the kitchen. They seemed to work as one.

    I have some ceramic cats and pandas that Aunt Gladys and Uncle Russell brought me from Russia and China when they traveled. I think it was one of things that got me interested in the larger world around me. I thought it was so nice that they thought of me on their trips and made an effort to bring me something.

    I’m thankful for her example of faith and perserverance in the Lord.

  3. S & D Hood says:

    Den and I send our condolences. Always looked forward to hearing about her and the family. Our prayers for peace and comfort are yours. God bless the entire family.

  4. Julia Joy says:

    I was blessed to have Gladys reside at our care home. She loved the Lord that was for sure. And we all loved to hear her sage advise. My daughter and I were remembering the other day that she made baby blankets for my Emily, and Pauline`s Maxwell. She will always be in our hearts.

  5. Kay Stoterau says:

    It was a joy to sit withGladys in church for several years, visit with her at Good Samaritan and with Russ to when he was in a home. She was a bright spark everyday because she loved her Lord.

  6. Erik Larson says:

    Similar to what my sister stated, I also enjoyed Aunt Gladys and Uncle Russell visiting Kirkland when I was a child. I remember enjoying hearing stories of their travels and thinking that it would be pretty cool to travel like them some day! I also remember thinking that it was pretty impressive they were travelling the world, at, what I thought at the times was, an “old age.” Of course, that was decades ago, and now I don’t think it was that old of an age. Perhaps living with a purpose and seeking new knowledge, adventure, and experiences was one of their secrets to reaching a much older age. Other fond memories include visiting Aunt Gladys and Uncle Russell, and then later just Aunt Gladys, in Mesa when I was travelling for work. I recall being honored to share prayer time with them and feeling that their prayers were still full of meaning, vibrancy, authenticity and life even when their bodies were fading. Blessings to all the family and friends, and I hope that the “bright spark” (that Kay mentioned above) still shimmers and ignites your heart as you remember this wonderful woman.

  7. Debbie Schulz-Peters says:

    My dearest has finally found her rest in the “Garden” of her Lord. My fondest memory is that of visiting Gladys, Russell, Coryne and Chuck in Barrington with my mother Phyllis.
    They had a beautiful garden at the top of the hill which I imagined was the place where
    “the dearest and best” would gather to be with the Lord. I will miss her prayers for my
    husband Fred and I – I know they worked as Fred did come to church with me once and he did hear the word of God. She will be with me still – I have gotten used to her being so far away yet still with me in my heart.

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Gladys Paulson

May 17, 1913 – March 12, 2018


Paulson, Gladys Lillian Eleanor, 104, originally from Kirkland, Illinois and longtime resident of Barrington, passed away in Mesa, AZ on March 12, 2018. Gladys was born to Charles and Hannah Brandt on May 17, 1913. She loved her Lord Jesus Christ and lived her life demonstrating her devotion. Praying for family, friends and people in need was her daily routine.

In 1928, Gladys met her future husband Russell Burdett Paulson from Kirkland, Illinois. They were married on June 19, 1936. They moved to Barrington, Illinois where they lived for nearly 40 years and built a home on Russell Street. Russell worked at the First National Bank of Barrington, retiring in 1975 as Vice-President. They moved to Mesa, AZ because Russell loved to watch the Cubs in Spring Training. They traveled around the world in the 1970-80s seeing places such as Sweden, Israel, Russia, Greece, China, Japan, and India. Russell preceded Gladys in death in 2007, being married 71 years. Her sister, Hazel Johnson also preceded her in death in 2003. Gladys is survived by her daughter, Corynne Matteson (David) of Harlingen, Texas and son, Rev. Charles Paulson (Kathy) of Mesa, Arizona. She is also survived by three grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren, all living in Texas.

Gladys lived her faith through commitment to the Lutheran Church by supporting the planting of new churches, playing the organ and piano for church services, serving as superintendent of Sunday schools, and serving as Northern Illinois District Representative for the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. Gladys was a member of St Matthew Lutheran Church in Barrington, St Luke Lutheran and Hosanna Lutheran Church in Mesa, Arizona. Gladys loved to sew and quilt and had a small business providing alteration services. Gladys saw many changes in her life including the transition from horse and buggy to cars, from hand pumping water in the kitchen and an outhouse to running water and modern appliances. She learned to use a cell phone at 95 years old and drove a car safely at 100 years old. Gladys often said that before she started each day she asked the Lord to be with her and keep her safe and every night she thanked the Lord for his presence in her life.

A grave side service will be held at Mountain View Memorial Garden at 7900 East Main Street, Mesa, Arizona at 11 am Tuesday, March 27, for all family and friends. Gladys’s son, Rev. Charles Paulson and Rev. Paul Frank of Hosanna Lutheran Church will officiate. Memorials may be made to St Luke Lutheran Church or Hosanna Lutheran Church.

7 responses to “Gladys Paulson”

  1. Judee Blaich says:

    We were so blessed to know Gladys and be a small part of her life. The strength of her faith was an inspiration to everyone who met her.
    She loved her Lord and He loved her.

  2. Kari Coppinger says:

    I always loved it when Aunt Gladys and Uncle Russell would visit my grandma Hazel in Kirkland. I enjoyed their laughter and I enjoyed watching Gladys and Hazel work together in the kitchen. They seemed to work as one.

    I have some ceramic cats and pandas that Aunt Gladys and Uncle Russell brought me from Russia and China when they traveled. I think it was one of things that got me interested in the larger world around me. I thought it was so nice that they thought of me on their trips and made an effort to bring me something.

    I’m thankful for her example of faith and perserverance in the Lord.

  3. S & D Hood says:

    Den and I send our condolences. Always looked forward to hearing about her and the family. Our prayers for peace and comfort are yours. God bless the entire family.

  4. Julia Joy says:

    I was blessed to have Gladys reside at our care home. She loved the Lord that was for sure. And we all loved to hear her sage advise. My daughter and I were remembering the other day that she made baby blankets for my Emily, and Pauline`s Maxwell. She will always be in our hearts.

  5. Kay Stoterau says:

    It was a joy to sit withGladys in church for several years, visit with her at Good Samaritan and with Russ to when he was in a home. She was a bright spark everyday because she loved her Lord.

  6. Erik Larson says:

    Similar to what my sister stated, I also enjoyed Aunt Gladys and Uncle Russell visiting Kirkland when I was a child. I remember enjoying hearing stories of their travels and thinking that it would be pretty cool to travel like them some day! I also remember thinking that it was pretty impressive they were travelling the world, at, what I thought at the times was, an “old age.” Of course, that was decades ago, and now I don’t think it was that old of an age. Perhaps living with a purpose and seeking new knowledge, adventure, and experiences was one of their secrets to reaching a much older age. Other fond memories include visiting Aunt Gladys and Uncle Russell, and then later just Aunt Gladys, in Mesa when I was travelling for work. I recall being honored to share prayer time with them and feeling that their prayers were still full of meaning, vibrancy, authenticity and life even when their bodies were fading. Blessings to all the family and friends, and I hope that the “bright spark” (that Kay mentioned above) still shimmers and ignites your heart as you remember this wonderful woman.

  7. Debbie Schulz-Peters says:

    My dearest has finally found her rest in the “Garden” of her Lord. My fondest memory is that of visiting Gladys, Russell, Coryne and Chuck in Barrington with my mother Phyllis.
    They had a beautiful garden at the top of the hill which I imagined was the place where
    “the dearest and best” would gather to be with the Lord. I will miss her prayers for my
    husband Fred and I – I know they worked as Fred did come to church with me once and he did hear the word of God. She will be with me still – I have gotten used to her being so far away yet still with me in my heart.

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