On Saturday, September 28, 2019, Glenna Marie (Mathews) Gehring passed away at her home in Boise, Idaho, with family by her side. She was 86.
Glenna was the first of nine children born to Jennings S. and Delvia Day (Cogar) Mathews on September 8, 1933, in Gilmer County, West Virginia.
In November 1958, Glenna married the love of her life, William “Bill” Gehring, Jr., in Bridgeton, NJ, where the couple lived and started their family. In the Spring of 1977, Bill and Glenna relocated the family to Denver, Colorado, a place they loved dearly. When Bill retired in 1990, the couple found themselves in a beautiful mountain top home in Harrison, Arkansas. Glenna immediately became involved in several local women’s clubs and organizations, volunteering her time, love of outdoors, and caring spirit wherever needed. Glenna developed many strong friendships in Harrison and loved being part of the close-knit community.
In the spring of 1992, they moved to Boise, Idaho, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Together, the two worked as a team to make their home a beautiful and comfortable place for family and friends to gather. Glenna loved the holidays, especially Christmas. She enjoyed decorating, cooking, shopping for gifts, and hosting her infamous Christmas Eve party, which started the year they got married and continued for decades.
Glenna loved reading, writing poetry, gardening, hiking in the mountains, red pottery, fried green tomatoes, family reunions, summer vacations, a tidy house, and most of all – her family. Glenna’s hopes and dreams for those she held close – love and happiness. Always.
Glenna is survived by her four children, Victoria F. Ruggiero (and new husband, Ron Heideman, Cascade, ID), Danna M. Gehring (Boise, ID), William J. (Patricia) Gehring, III (Clayton, CA), and Terri Lynn Gehring (Boise, ID), three grandchildren, Carlee M. Colosimo (Grand Jct., CO), Cory J. Colosimo (Denver, CO), and Lauren N. Gehring (Clayton, CA), siblings Denzil Mathews and his late wife Carol, Helen Davis, Anna (Tom) Rannenberg, John (Sue) Mathews, Clarence (Brigitte) Mathews, Jeannie Ryan, Claudia “Corky” (Toby) Ice, and her very dear friend, Sharon Randel (Star, ID). She was “Aunt Glenna” to many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Glenna is preceded in death by her husband of fifty-four years, William J. “Bill” Gehring, Jr., grandson, Robert D. Heeley, sister Sue (Richard) Belvin, and her faithful little dog, Picabo, who untimely passed away just two weeks before Glenna.
The children held an intimate gathering to celebrate her life at her home in Boise. Glenna’s sister Anna and husband Tom Rannenberg hosted Thanksgiving dinner at their home in Fairmont, where her family also celebrated Glenna’s life.
Glenna’s children would like to thank the staff at Bowman’s Funeral Home for the respect and compassion they showed in helping with the arrangements. The children would also like to sincerely thank the family and friends who came to visit (some traveling thousands of miles) and spend time with Glenna during the past year. Those visits were precious gifts of love, and she cherished each one. Love works.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Woman & Children’s Alliance in Boise, Idaho, or to a charity of your choice.
