The Onlooker (Lansing State Journal Newspaper article) 
(piece of newspaper didn't have a date)

"Good friends are the sunshine of life.  
 Thank you for all the sunshine you've brought into ours."

That was the message of affection the people who work in the Roosevelt 
Building -- the House of Representatives office building north of the Capitol --
presented to Gladys Paschke, 4308 Devonshire, Lansing, on her retirement 
as operator of the lobby concession stand.

The 65 year old grandmother, blind since birth, has been bringing sunshine 
into the lives of the legislators and employees in the Roosevelt Building 
for nearly seven years.  So they all got together and threw an afternoon 
good bye party for her in the building lobby June 28 to say thank you and
wish her happiness. 

The Roosevelt folks' "Thank You" card was the unique creation of the 
House Democratic staff artist Sandy Marion.  The 18 by 15 inch card, 
framed so Gladys could hang it on the wall, was adorned with roses 
painted with "puff" paint -- which is raised to the touch when it hardens -- 
and scented with a delicate rose perfume.

The good bye sunshine message from her Roosevelt friends also was set 
in braille by Walter Saumier at the Mid Michigan Center for the Blind Inc.

"I wanted to create something that Gladys could relate to", said Sandy.  
"She will be able to see her card and enjoy it with her sense of touch and smell.

It was a bittersweet farewell for Gladys, whose mind and heart wanted 
to continue working but her body told her it was time to retire.

"The days were getting too long", said Gladys.  Getting up at 4:30 
every morning was getting harder to do.  At the end of the day my 
legs ached.  I didn't want to quit, but my body told me you have to.

Gladys was born on a farm near DeWitt and she attended the Michigan School 
for the Blind from 1928 to 1941.  She entered the vending program for the 
blind 12 years ago and operated the concession stand at the Manly Miles 
Building on the Michigan State Campus for six years before taking over 
the Roosevelt Building location.

A diminutive dumpling of a woman, Gladys always had a smile and something 
warm and pleasant to say to her many customers.  Although she couldn't see
them, she knew most of her more than 200 regular customers who work in the
Roosevelt Building by the sound of their voice.

"I enjoy people and just enjoy the whole thing", 
said Gladys, describing her feeling toward her job.

Although she won't have to get up at 4:30 in the morning any more, 
Gladys will have plenty to keep her busy.  She is active in her church -- 
The Free Methodist Church on Cedar Street -- and she'll have more time 
to spend with her husband Donald, their three daughters, Donna, Janet,
and Carol, and their six grandchildren.

"I'm going to miss everybody", says Gladys, 
but one reward will be the extra sleep she'll be getting.

"I'll get to sack in -- maybe till 7 in the morning", she said with a chuckle.