Gloria J. Assenheimer

Gloria Jean Assenheimer, 80, of Bucyrus passed peacefully Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at Carlisle Place following recent health issues.



She was born September 21, 1941 in Bucyrus to the late Sherman Jr. and Jean E. (Corwin) Norton and was a 1959 graduate of Mt. Zion High School. On June 5, 1959, she married her high school sweetheart, James E. Assenheimer and they shared many laughs and travels before his death on April 22, 2019.



Gloria worked for many years as a cashier. She started this career at Dairyland, then onto Great Scot which ultimately became Foodtown where she retired. Gloria was a longtime member of Mt. Zion UMC, where she played piano, taught Sunday School, served as a Youth Director, helped with Vacation Bible School and assisted the church wherever needed. She was a fighter and a proud supporter of Relay for Life, having survived both breast and lung cancer as well as a brain aneurysm.



Gloria will be considered by many, “the sweetest lady they ever met” and she genuinely loved helping others. She delivered Meals on Wheels to those in need and made cards which she sent to family and friends to brighten their day. She also shared her homemade dish rags and crocheted a few Afghans. Time spent with family was priceless. There were precious times spent around her piano, where family would sing while she played, and many smiles were had at the Wednesday gatherings. They shared lots of family vacations over the years and waterskied on many weekends at Lake Erie. Gloria enjoyed years of bowling and she and Jim formed several friendships while wintering in Estero, Florida. As important as family was to Gloria, clogging was a close second. The Country Crossroad Cloggers was a local club she formed, and they performed locally at schools, nursing homes, festivals as well as made an appearance at a national conference. Gloria was also a member of an Ohio clogging club which competed at conventions on a national basis and made a trip to Austria.



She is survived by two children, Eric Assenheimer and Jodi (Chris) Swanson; seven grandchildren, Shane Swanson, Jes (Danielle) Swanson, Natalie (Jake) Sanders, Nicole (Marcus) Swanson, Jenna (Alema) Assenheimer, Brittney (John) Brady and Charlee (Marque) Troutman; nine great grandchildren, Emily, Casey, Weston, Jaycie, Marlee, Joesie, Manaia, Khamdyn and Eliana. Gloria is also survived by her sister who she was very close with, Chris (Robert) Leonhardt; brother, Richie (Karen) Norton; brothers and sisters-in-law, Lowell (Deanna) Assenheimer, Robert (Jane) Rule, Marilyn Houk and Shirley Assenheimer as well as nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a sister, Dianne E. Rule and brothers-in-law, Donald Assenheimer and Paul Houk.



Her family will receive friends from 11-12:55 pm Saturday, December 18 at Wise Funeral Service where her funeral will be held that day at 1:00 pm with Rev. Hyeran Lee Yu officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.



If desired, donations can be made payable to Mt. Zion UMC and will be accepted through the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy are encouraged to be shared on her tribute wall.