Miles D. Gladitsch age 82 of Vesta passed away Sunday, November 29, 2015 at Seasons Hospice in Redwood Falls. Memorial services will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 3 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Vesta. Visitation is one hour prior to services at the church. A private family burial will be held at the Vesta Cemetery at a later date. Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home in Redwood Falls is assisting the family with arrangements.

Miles D. Gladitsch was born January 6, 1933 on the family farm in Vesta Township, Minnesota to Martin and Sophia (Burmaster) Gladitsch. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Vesta. Miles attended District 82 country school near Vesta and graduated from Echo High School in 1950. He then attended a 9-month agriculture school in Milroy. Miles was drafted in the US Army in 1953 during the Korean War and served most of his time in Japan. After he was honorably discharged in 1955, Miles returned home to begin farming. He was a telephone lineman, in addition to farming, and also did custom spraying, ditching, and tiling. On February 28, 1957 Miles married Shirley Gollmer at St. John’s Lutheran Church. The couple lived in the Vesta area. Miles served on the farm committee of St. John’s Lutheran Church. After retiring from farming, he worked for Daryl Kuehn Heating and Air Conditioning. In 1996, Miles began working for Builders for Christ. Their first location was Antigua. He served until 2006 when he was diagnosed with cancer. Miles pitched fast pitch softball for many years. He enjoyed wood carving, playing cards at the café in Vesta, and planning and taking little trips.

Miles is survived by his wife Shirley of 57 years; children: Jo Ellen (Robert) Hayes of Guthrie, OK, and Lee (Val Van Hecke) Gladitsch of Cold Spring; six grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; brother Warren (Marilyn) Gladitsch of Forest Lake; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, and sister Fern Bertoy-Terry.