Our mom lived such a beautiful life grounded in the strong faith of Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior, whom she loved deeply. This love and faith in Him guided her every day and she is now enjoying her eternal reward in heaven free from pain and suffering.

Gladys Mae Wehmeyer was born in Port Arthur, Texas, on August 19, 1928. She was the daughter of Henry William Wehmeyer and Emma Julia Louise Schaefer and was the third of nine children. Her family was deeply rooted in the Lutheran faith. She attended Lutheran school and was confirmed on April 26, 1942.

At church, she met the love of her life, Gerhardt "Garry" Paul Rottmann, when he accepted his first teaching call to Port Arthur, Texas, at Trinity Lutheran Church and School where Gladys' family attended. They married at Trinity on August 12, 1949, and celebrated 51 years of marriage. They had two children. Rebecca Jan was born May 30, 1953, in Port Arthur, and Rachael Ann was born September 22, 1955, in Corpus Christi. Gladys was thrilled to have two little girls to sew dresses for, and that she always did.

Gladys worked for a mortgage company for 30 years; 25 years in downtown Houston and five years in the Galleria area. Though she loved her job, she thoroughly enjoyed her retirement. She and Garry spent as much time as possible traveling and simply enjoying their life together.

They were blessed with four grandchildren - one girl and three boys - and always love spending quality time with them as they grew. To them she was known as "Granny."

Gladys enjoyed cooking and hosting holiday dinners and events including Sunday dinners for her family. She could also be found many times sitting in front of her sewing machine working on a new project. And she loved baseball. As a young girl, she remembered going to games with her dad.

She loved her sisters, brothers, and entire family deeply and rarely missed a gathering or family reunion. She loved staying connected with them all.

Most of all, she loved her Lord and Savior with her whole heart. She loved singing praises to Him in worship. She and Garry sang in their church choirs for many, many years, and later in life, sang in the Houston Lutheran Chorale as well. The Chorale led them to many singing events and concerts which included Carnegie Hall and Europe. This was always such a joy for her and a special memory.

Gladys treasured all of her friendships and remained close to so many through the years. She loved her church so much and was a member of the Lydia Guild for many years. She always looked forward to her Bible classes and church activities and outings. She was always ready to do something and go somewhere.

Though in her later years she moved from her house into assisted living, she continued to cherish all of her friends and family and always enjoyed their visits and phone calls. She also loved her extended family at her assisted living home and always spoke highly of them and cared deeply about each of them. They took very good care of her and loved her.

Mom was such a sweet lady with a big, beautiful smile. She will be greatly missed. She is in heaven. She is with her Garry. She is with her Lord. We will see her again! We love you, mom!

She is survived by her daughters, Rebecca Jan Fintel and husband Mark, and Rachael Ann Cason; her grandchildren, Angela Cousins and husband Andrew "Andy", Nathan Fintel and wife Christina, Andrew Pastor, and Kurtis Fintel and wife Jennifer "Jen"; her great-grandchildren, Ashleigh Cousins, Mya Fintel, Daniel Fintel, Addison Cousins, and Kaitlynn Fintel; her brother, Henry William Wehmeyer, Jr.; and her sisters, Ruth Joyce Potts and Ethel Ann Sullivan. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews; four step-grandchildren; 14 step-great-grandchildren; and three step-great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Emma Wehmeyer; her husband, Gerhardt "Garry" Paul Rottmann; two brothers, Eugene William Wehmeyer and Jim Edward Wehmeyer; and three sisters, Dora Louise Landry, Alma Marie Rottmann, and Emma Geraldine "Gerry" Zimmermann.

Friends are invited to visit with the family beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, January 25, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 5201 Spring Cypress Road, Spring, TX 77379. Funeral services will follow at 10 a.m. Interment will take place at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Spring.

If desired, memorial donations can be made to The Lutheran Hour or the Trinity Lutheran Men's Scholarship Fund.