Gladys Savage

Gladys Jeanette Savage, 91, of Red Wing, died Sunday, August 3, 2025 at St. Benedictine Living Community in Red Wing.

She was born January 27, 1934 in Red Wing to Edward and Alma (Gunderson) Prigge. She grew up in Red Wing and graduated from Red Wing Central High School, class of 1952. On January 20, 1953 she married Donald Savage and the couple had six children. They later divorced.

In addition to being a busy wife and mother, Gladys worked at many places throughout the Red Wing and St. Paul area, including as a switchboard operator, at the Red Wing Pottery, in Dr. Seberg's dentist office, and as sales associate at Montgomery Wards. But her life-long passion was the wellbeing of children. In the early 70's she owned and operated the Candy Cane Nursery; a day care. She would go on to start day care programs in a number of places, including Especially for Children at the Training School and she worked closely with the Prairie Island Indian Community to develop child care services. She launched the Early Childhood Family and Education program (ECFE) to enrich the lives of new families. She established the Child Care Resource and Referral program (CCR&R), now a nation-wide program. She worked at the Red Wing Technical College as the director of Work and Family Resources, writing grants and teaching homemaking and nanny programs. She was also a life coach at the Anderson Center, Towerview Alternative High School.

She was generous with her time and was a very active volunteer. She started a Toy Library out of the Training School for the ECFE. She volunteered at senior centers and in care homes. She was a part of the Welfare Board and the Women's Shelter Board. She volunteered with the Arne Carlson gubernatorial campaign and she herself ran for Red Wing County Commissioner. She was the American Association of University Women's Citizen of the Year in 1990. In 2014 she was an honoree of the Red Wing Women's Hall of Fame.

She was also an accomplished property manager who owned properties all over the Red Wing area. She was often sought out for advice in related matters.

She was always a safe person to go to for advice. She would listen and be a guiding light in difficult situations. She made everyone feel like they were valuable and important. She valued building community and believed in giving back whenever possible. She was a support system and cheerleader for friends and family alike. She enjoyed the success of others as much as her own.

She enjoyed dancing and vegetable gardening. She loved to travel and collect antiques.

She will be missed by many, including her 5 children, Sheri (Bill) Janus of Alpine, Texas, Barbara "Barni" Seeley, of Red Wing, Susan (Mark) Beeston of Gatesville, Texas, Christopher Savage of Red Wing and John Savage of Red Wing; 12 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Lynde Jo; her former husband, Donald; sister, Elaine (Laurence) Hilden; her son-in-law, Charlie, and her parents.

A memorial service will be 12, noon, Friday, August 15, 2025 at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel with visitation from 10 a.m. to noon. A private family burial will be at St. John's Cemetery in Red Wing. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com