Jeremy (Grizz) Earl Gladden was born Dec. 6, 1976, in Jefferson City, Missouri to Karen Hart Williams and Jerry Gladden. He passed away Oct. 19, 2024, in El Paso, Texas.
Jeremy grew up in the Roby/Plato area and graduated from Plato High School in 1994. He spent most of his life as a heavy haul truck driver, hauling various types of heavy loads all across the country. After he retired from heavy hauling, he started a pilot car business for heavy and oversized loads called G&W Pilot Cars. He married Barbra Mullenbach Sept. 16, 2000, with whom he shared many happy memories.
Jeremy won several awards during his driving career which included the 1 Million Mile Safe Driver Award. He was a member of OONIADA from 2000-2021 and he was a member of Roby Baptist Church. He enjoyed woodworking, working in his yard, gardening vegetables and flowers and hunting. He most loved his children and family and spending time with them whenever he could. He was a wonderful son, father, uncle and friend who would help anyone in any way he was able.
Jeremy is preceded in death by his father, Jerry Gladden; stepfather, Garry Williams; grandparents, Emmett and Beulah (Campbell) Hart and Earl and Ruby (York) Gladden; nephew, Charles McClure; and uncles, Bobby Gene Todd and Tommy Vernon Todd.
He is survived by his children, Victoria, Pastan Jo and Corbin Gladden; mother, Karen Hart Williams (fiancé, Michael Stilfield); siblings, Karrie (Gladden) Sandfort and Robert A. Simonelli; niece, Kayla Burts; special friends, Robert and Misty Simonelli and Barbra Mullenbach; and many other extended family, trucking family and numerous friends. He will be greatly missed.
A visitation for Jeremy will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31 at Palace Union Church, 36497 Highway AW, Plato. A funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. with Reverend Leo Gladden officiating. Pallbearers are Montice Burts, Nate Smith, Robbie Burts, Chris Rassmussen, Kenny Weber, Tracy Lewis, Duncan Loney, Robert Loney, Matthew Klusmeyer, Matt Vader and Josh Sutton. Interment will be at Palace Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Evans Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.evansfh.com.
