Gloria A. Burish, age 88, a resident of Manitowoc, passed peacefully on Monday, January 16, 2017 at the Manitowoc Health and Rehabilitation Center, her loving home since 2000.

Gloria was born on April 2, 1928, to the late Edward and Laura (Geimer) Grimm, of Two Creeks. She attended the Twin Elder grade school of Two Creeks and graduated from Two Rivers Washington High School with the class of 1946. From 1946 to 1948, Gloria attended and graduated from the Manitowoc County Normal School and subsequently earned her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education in 1957 from Oshkosh University, and her Masters of Science in psychology and guidance and counseling from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee in 1971. She was a talented and passionate teacher for 20 years at several Two Rivers rural schools, the Washington Public Grade School of Two Rivers, and the Sheboygan Public Schools, and was an active member of the Wisconsin Teachers Assocations, the Two Rivers Education Association and the Sheboygan Teachers Association.

On July 9, 1949, Gloria married Reuben R. Burish of Wausau at St. Luke's Catholic Church, in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Reuben preceded her in death on April 8, 2014.

In retirement, Gloria continued her life-long love of music and dancing, regularly entertaining people at area nursing homes and the Manitowoc Senior Center with the Gloria Burish Band or with solo piano and organ playing, sing-alongs, and other performances.

Gloria is survived by her loving family including daughter Susan Burish and life partner Jennie Schacht of Oakland, California, son John Burish and wife Sharron, of Manitowoc, daughter Marianne Burish and life partner Nicole Mantyh, and stepgrandson Owen Mantyh of Milwaukee, son Richard Burish of San Francisco, California, grandchildren Ashleigh Burish of Richmond, Virginia, Dustin Burish of Denver, Colorado, brother George Grimm and sister-in-law, Sue, of Milwaukee, sister-in-law Laveda Grimm of Two Rivers, and many other dear friends and relatives. Gloria is preceded in death by her parents Ed and Laura Grimm, brother Lawrence Grimm and nephew Andrew Grimm, all of Two Rivers.

Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. Friday, January 20, 2017 at the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home with Deacon Alan Boeldt officiating. Cremation will follow at the Harrigan Parkside Crematory and Chapel with burial of the cremains at Holy Cross Cemetery in Two Rivers at a later date. Relatives and friends may call at the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home on Friday from 2 p.m. until the time of services at 3 p.m.

The family wishes to thank all the nurses and staff at the Manitowoc Health and Rehabilitation Center for their years of excellent and dignified care of Gloria, and for their compassion and skill in the days of her final journey.

Online condolences to the family may be sent to www.harriganparksiderfuneralhome.com.