Gladys L. Ensey

Gladys Leone Ensey, 100, of Hillsdale, formerly of Geneseo, passed away at her home on February 16, 2025.  A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on March 1, 2025, at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Geneseo Chapel.  Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Geneseo.  Visitation will be held prior to the funeral service, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Memorials may be directed to Hospice Compassus, 4101 John Deere Road, Suite 1, Moline, IL, 61265, and The Blue Jean Project which makes quilts for veterans of the United States of America.  Donations for The Blue Jean Project may be sent to Blue Jean Project, C/O Michael Franke, 100 West Jefferson Street #710, Macomb, IL, 61455.  For both memorials, please be sure to include on the memo line of your check – “In Memory of Gladys Ensey”.

Gladys Wieneke Ensey was born on August 16, 1924, in Geneseo, Illinois, to Maurice and Myrtle “Althea” (Goreth) Wieneke. She graduated from Geneseo High School with the class of 1942.  She served during WWII in the United States Navy as a WAVE, after working with the Davenport Daily Times out of high school.  In 1947, Gladys married John “Jack” L. Ensey, Jr. in a ceremony held in Geneseo, they raised the children in Geneseo until later moving the family to a farm in Hillsdale.  Gladys and John “Jack” later divorced.  She built a career as an accounting technician at the Rock Island Arsenal, where she later retired. Beyond her work, Gladys had a deep appreciation for the arts and dabbled in horoscopes. She found joy in painting and sculpting, expressing her creativity through various artistic endeavors. She attributed her long life to Shaklee vitamins, three almonds a day, and homemade fudge and baking.  Above all else, she cherished spending time with family and friends and doing their horoscope readings. 

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, John Steven (Debbie) Ensey of Hartland, WI, Mark Maurice (Toni) Ensey of Moline, IL, Alicia Marie Ensey of Lakeville, MN, and Alaena Althea Ensey of Hillsdale, IL; twelve grandchildren; thirty great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and daughter-in-law, Patti Ensey of LeClaire, IA.

Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, Maurice and Myrtle “Althea” Wieneke; ex-husband, John “Jack” Linn Ensey, Jr.; sons, Christopher Linn Ensey and Paul Michael Ensey; sister, Myrtle Irene Atwell; and brother, Lauren Charles Wieneke.