Gladys Brown of Hutchinson, KS, has passed away, leaving behind a family and community who loved her dearly.
Here is what we wish the world to know of Gladys.
It is in the silence afterward that we hear how loud a life was.
Gladys Brown, 86, died May 3, 2026, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. She was born on January 31, 1940, in Hays, to Alois and Sophia (Pfannenstiel) Windholz.Gladys graduated from Victoria High School, Victoria, KS in 1957. She married Robert Lee “Bob” Brown on November 21, 1981. They shared over 26 years of marriage, prior to him passing away on March 4, 2008. Bob was the love of Gladys’ life and her soulmate. They loved to travel together, traveling in Canada from Saskatchewan, Alberta, to Vancouver, British Columbia. Attending the 1986 World Fair in Vancouver. The pair toured all but 11 northeastern states. They also attended their grandchildren’s sport events; from basketball, football, wrestling, track, cross country, cheerleading and softball. In 2010, Gladys travelled to Cancun, Mexico, to attend the destination wedding of her grandson, Irwin and Nicole Sander. She enjoyed playing racehorse pinochle and played for over 35 years.Gladys is survived by: her daughters, Shaunda (John) Barrett and Saundra Sander-Crawford, both of Hutchinson; daughter-in-law, Cherri Younger of Hays; grandchildren, Irwin (Nicole) Sander, Joshua (Breanna) Sander, Cassandra Wolf, Melanie Dreher, Chandler Dreher, Crystal Nottingham, Justin Whitt; great-grandchildren, McKenzie Brummet, Sophia Redfield, Elicea Sander, Dalton Redfield, Preston Sander, Blake Redfield, Hadley Sander, Brennan Brown, Sadie Smith, Nicholas Smith, Mace Sander, Nate Brummett; great-great granddaughter, Alaiya Redfield; brother, Ernest Windholz of Salina; sister, Mary Kay Van Donge of Hutchinson; many nieces and nephews; and her beloved fur babies: Missy, Sugar Bear, Precious and Pixie.She was preceded in death by: her parents; husband, Bob Brown; grandson, Jesse Dale Dreher; brother, Verland Windholz; and sons-in-law, Marty Sander and Wally Crawford.Parish Rosary will be 10:30 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial to follow 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 11, 2026, both at Church of the Holy Cross, 2631 Independence, Hutchinson. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson. Friends may call Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m., with the family present Sunday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Elliott Mortuary.In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Church of the Holy Cross, The Asher House, or International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.
