Gladys HK Pinney

GLADYS HK PINNEY

October 10, 1933 – September 25, 2010

GLADYS HOLLANDER KIGER PINNEY – With her family at her bedside, Gladys graciously and with much dignity, admitted defeat to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) at age 76. 

Gladys Evelyn Hollander was born at the family farm in Bland, MO to John & Rachel Hollander on October 10, 1933.

Gladys attended public school(s) in Owensville, MO and became a registered Nurse upon graduating from Evangelical Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis, MO in 1954.  She earned her Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 1974, graduating Cum Laude from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, and graduated in 1979 from Utah State University in Logan, UT with a Masters Degree in Educational and Technical Science. She also encouraged and was proud that both of her daughters, Lori and Joni Detweiler, graduated from colleges in SLC.

Gladys was a role model and inspiration to fellow nurses and faculty as she exemplified the importance of quality patient care and human dignity. She worked in many aspects of nursing including the operating room, medical/surgical and psychiatric nursing. The ripple effect of her professional enthusiasm is carried out by hundreds of operating room 

technicians and nurses whom she taught while at Utah Technical College (later Salt Lake Community College) where she taught for thirteen years. She was instrumental in converting the entire Health Occupations program from a quarter to a semester system. After a thirty year nursing career, Gladys pursued the business world where she founded and successfully operated Life Security Associates, LLC, providing health insurance and financial planning for individuals and small businesses. She prospered in that endeavor, retiring in 1999.

Gladys married Jack Detweiler in 1954, and they moved to Tooele, UT in 1961 where she worked in nursing at the Tooele Valley Hospital. In 1978, she and daughter Joni moved to Salt Lake City. There she married Dr. Roger S. Kiger, Jr., MD, whom she lost to cancer in 1983.

Gladys married Jay Pinney in late 1985. They shared a wonderful life and a special friendship together, traveling the world and enjoying their many friends. They moved to Kayenta, west of St. George, UT in 2000. While there, Gladys volunteered at the Red Hills Elementary School helping young readers improve their skills. She also worked with Southern Utah Home Care & Hospice. As a lifetime member of the Methodist Church, she was actively involved at the Shepherd of the Hills UMC, serving with the Pastor Parish Relations Committee and she was participated in establishing and opening the new church on Tonaquint Drive in 2001.

In the Spring of 2002, the symptoms of PSP began to appear. As Gladys' physical health condition digressed, she and her Assistance Dog Cali moved back to SLC in 2007 with the intent to identify and treat the malady. She was diagnosed with PSP in mid 2008. Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) has no known cause, remedy or cure.

Gladys spent her last months at Legacy House Assisted Living of Taylorsville, with Inspiration Hospice assisting and attending her later and final needs. To the end she was well aware of her illness and dealt with it very graciously, acknowledging all who cared for her. Many thanks to those who provided loving care and to all of her friends for the support and caring thru her final days. 

She assured those who loved her that she was ready to leave the cocoon and become a butterfly.

We will miss you Gladys, until we meet again.

With your God's Blessing, 

may you freely fly, 

forever.

Friends may call upon the family on Sunday, October 10^th, 2010 from 6-8 pm at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in memory of Gladys to      The U of U Body Donor Program, 520 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108 or to www.psp.org or to the charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.starksfuneral.com.