Gloria Jean (Woodcock) Mertesdorf, 70, of Pine Island passed away on Monday March 8, 2021 at St. Marys Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota.

Gloria was born on January 5, 1951 to Albert and Virginia (Johnson) Woodcock. She graduated from Good Thunder High School in 1969. On November 6, 1971, she married James Mertesdorf of Vernon Center, Minnesota at the St. Johns Lutheran Church in Good Thunder, Minnesota. They moved to Pine Island Minnesota where they have lived for 49 years. Gloria worked at PTM in Pine Island for several years and was a home maker after retirement.

Gloria loved camping, quilting, crocheting, sewing, family gatherings and genealogy.

She is survived by her husband James Mertesdorf of Pine Island; daughter-in-law Melissa Mertesdorf, two grand-sons Breckin and Cullen Grinnell of Rochester, mother Virginia Woodcock of Lake Preston, SD; brother Leonard (Patricia) Woodcock of Rochester, MN; sisters Jacquline (Gary) Sohre of Mapelton, MN, Brenda (Charles) Wienk; brother Jerome (Janean) Woodcock and Tersia (Joel) Warne of Lake Preston, SD; father-in-law Dean Mertesdorf of Mankato, MN, sisters-in-law Cheryl (Frank) Lushine of Edina, MN, Patti (Daryl) Meyer of Mankato, MN, Dara (Bob) Stevens of Vernon Center, MN; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by two sons Adam and Eric Mertesdorf, father Albert Woodcock, and mother-in-law Shirley Mertesdorf.

The memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 27, 2021 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home in Rochester, with Rev. Lester Horntvedt officiating.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Burial will be in the Vernon Center Cemetery at a later date. Social distancing and masks are required. Click here to view the live stream of the funeral service.