Gretchen Ann Strauch Obituary (1957

Washburn: Gretchen Ann Strauch, 69, of Washburn, passed Monday July 13, 2026, at 6:35 pm. She left us too early, leaving many weeds unpulled, flowers unplanted and bushes not pruned. Per her wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. Visitation will be held Friday July 17, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Calvert & Johnson Memorial Home, Washburn. Memorial services will be held Saturday at 11am at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Washburn, visitation one hour prior. Pastor Mark Gruden will officiate. Inurnment will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, Washburn. Memorial contributions may be directed to Grant Ireland Memorial Park. Gretchen was the eldest child of Arthur William and Phyllis Jean (Zenzen) Strauch on March 2, 1957, in Spring Valley, Illinois. Surviving are her siblings, Bill (Kaye), Robin, both of Washburn, Jeff (Julie), of Metamora, Tim, of Washburn and Mike, of Henry, her nieces and nephews, Sarah Strauch, Matt (Melanie) Strauch, Christopher (Courtney) Strauch, and Michelle (Doug) Kelch, great nieces and nephews, Will, Mackenna, Peyton, Gaige, Bailey and Lyle. Gretchen graduated from Low Point-Washburn High School, class of 1975. She also graduated from Illinois Central College with a diploma in accounting and bookkeeping. She started her bookkeeping career at Calahan Meat Co., Peoria and later going to Peoria County FS for many years. Her interest turned to plants, flowers and gardening. She completed the Woodford County Master Gardner’s Program through the University of Illinois Home Extension. She was very active in the program; giving many programs, manning “Plant Question” booths, maintaining the courthouse grounds and always listing to webinars, gaining as much knowledge as she could on any variety of topics. She had worked at local garden centers and last working at the Jones Country Gardens and Cliff’s Market. She made many friends over the years at the garden centers. Customers would always have a question and end up visiting and becoming friends. Gretchen was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Washburn where she taught Sunday School for many years, and along with her sister, Robin and family they were custodians. Gretchen was a member of the Women of Washburn for many years. She was always active in many of their projects, volunteering to change the community events sign, plant and maintain the downtown planters. She served as treasurer for the Grant Ireland Memorial Park Board, just recently leaving her post due to her health. She had a great love for the park, always wanting to improve and “do something different” in the park. During the summers. she helped with the “Adventures In The Park” at Grant Park. She loved to help the kids paint and plant their flower pots. She also gave them a lesson on how to care for the flowers. She will be remembered for her many hours of attending to the many public areas in Washburn; her church grounds and Half Moon Prairie Park, and wherever there was something needing her attention. Her arch enemy in life was weeds. Pulling weeds and trimming something always brought her great joy. She was always willing to lend a hand, be it with her family, her community or her church. She always had time to stop and visit with just about anyone, conversations were her strong point. She lined up the parade entries for fall festival for many years. One of her great joys was to watch her “Girls” play sports. Gretchen enjoyed knitting, making many projects over the years. She was proud that her aunt Viola Arends taught her. She will be missed by many who knew and loved her. Online condolences may be made to: www.calvertmemorial.com.