Gloria Mae (Kempky) Kilmer, 85, of Pound, passed away peacefully in her home on Friday, June 19, 2026.
Gloria was born to Paul & Mary Kempky at their farm home in Pound, Wisconsin to a midwife, on May 14, 1941.
She married Clarence Kilmer, Jr. on October 25, 1958 and together they had 15 children. The couple divorced later in life.
Gloria is survived by 13 children, Barbara Velich, Brian (Donna) Kilmer, Cynthia (Bob) Charlier, Charlotte (Ben Meyer) Kilmer, Debra (Fred) Umlah, Rose Wenzel, Marsha (Butch) Ermis, Vivian (Erick) Hoffmann, Jaquelyn (Kevin) Kempka, Michelle (Chuck) Wutkowski, Calvin Kilmer, Lacey (Jamie) Steeno and Amy (Brad) Gibson. They also had 2 children who pre-deceased the couple by passing away at birth, Mark Kilmer and Baby Girl Kilmer. She was blessed with many Grandchildren: Heather Law, Joshua (Meghan) Kilmer, Steven (Jen) Kilmer, Robert Jr., & Missy Charlier, Gabrielle & Wyatt Meyer, Stacy (Mark) Alexa, Sammie Keller, Ashley (Jesse) Niswonger, Ella & Jack Ermis, Jacob & Riley Hoffmann, Lindsay Allard, Collin (Mandy) Kempka, Alexis Rudolph, Mason & Nicholas Wutkowski, Emily (Tyler) Hagemeier, Sawyer & Kody Steeno, Brandon Champagne, Amanda (Isaac) Ellie and Ethan Gibson, as well as several Great-Grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
She was pre-deceased by her parents Paul & Mary, her sister Dorothy & her husband Roy Cudnohosky, her brother Roy (“Larry”) & his wife Mary Kempky and niece Connie Schuettpelz.
Besides raising a large family she was a hard worker and was employed at many places in her lifetime. She started working at a Chinese restaurant in Milwaukee at a young age then came back to the area to work at G&R Pallet, Brazeau Cheese Factory, Friday Canning-Gillett, Coleman Products Company & ERDA. She was so proud to go back to school after the closing of Coleman Products and to finally complete her education and earn her GED. She was then employed at ERDA where she eventually retired, giving her the opportunity to relax and enjoy the things she loved so much such as gardening, watching and feeding the birds, doing Sudoku and watching PBS (Bob Ross painting) and her stories. Additionally, due to a decline in her health her daughter, Rosie, moved in with her to become her full-time Caregiver and she was able to add “keeping Rosie on her toes” to her list of favorite past-times.
Family and friends are invited to join us on Monday, June 29, 2026 as Gloria is laid to rest along-side her parents and siblings at the Pound Cemetery. Services will be at Rhodes Charapata Funeral Home, 235 E. Main St. Coleman, Wisconsin. Visitation 10:00AM until 12:00 PM. Funeral service will follow beginning at 12:00 PM and will be officiated by long-time family friend Pastor Mark Kostreva.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.rhodescharapata.com
Rhodes-Charapata Funeral Home of Coleman is assisting the family.
