Gladys Wilma DeGraaf

Gladys Wilma DeGraaf slipped into the arms of Jesus with her two daughters by her side on April 28, 2026. The first face she saw with perfectly restored vision was Jesus, her Savior and Lord and she is walking the streets of gold with Him. She was born in Princeton, Minnesota to Bert and Dena Bekius on April 8, 1935. Gladys knew that she wanted to be a nurse from an early age. In 1955, she graduated from the nursing program of Northwestern Hospital as a Registered Nurse. She married John W. DeGraaf later that year. Her nursing career spanned many decades and she worked as a registered nurse in Minnesota, Arizona and California. Gladys retired from Kaweah Delta District Hospital in 1997 and was recognized for her outstanding work in the field of health by the hospital at her retirement dinner. She loved caring for the tiny babies in the neonatal intensive care nursery and provided skilled and loving care for several generations of Tulare County families. Gladys is survived by her husband, John DeGraaf, and two loving daughters, Sharon Johnson, Linda (David) Skaggs. She is also survived by all of her siblings, Sylvia Hoekstra, Duane (Delores) Bekius, Al (Barb) Bekius, Donna (Henry) Breems and Brenda Santema as well as their numerous children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Gladys is preceded in death by her parents, Bert and Dena Bekius, her parents in law, Peter and Bertha DeGraaf, her brother-in-law, Cornelius DeGraaf, his wife Helena DeGraaf and their son, Harvey DeGraaf. Gladys was also preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Elaine Bekius, brother-in-law, Russell Hoekstra, her nephew, Jay Bekius and her brother-in-law, John Santema. The family would like to thank the amazing staff of Quail Park Assisted Living, Infinite Heart Hospice and Synergy Home Care for their loving and specialized care of Gladys. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Central Valley Christian Schools (CVC) Scholarship Fund. 5600 W Tulare Avenue, Visalia, California 93277, (559) 734-2684, cvc.org. Visitation will be held 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Thursday, May 21st, 2026 at Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel, 127 E. Caldwell Ave., Visalia. The Celebration of Life for Gladys DeGraaf will be held at Trinity United Reformed Church, 6400 W Walnut Avenue, Visalia, California on Friday, May 22, 2026 at 10:30am with a luncheon at the church following the service. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Gladys Wilma DeGraaf

April 8, 1935 - April 28, 2026