Gretchen Bucheit

Gretchen Bucheit, age 78, of Decorah, IA, died on Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home, in Decorah, IA. A memorial mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 4, 2012, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 West Main St., with Rev. Phillip Gibbs presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00-7:00 p.m., on Thursday at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Avenue in Decorah. There will be a rosary at 4:00 p.m., on Thursday. Gretchen Ann (Willson) Bucheit was born on April 2, 1934, on the family farm north of Decorah, Iowa, to Leo and Mary (Hyberger) Willson. Gretchen attended Van Vliet Hesper #3 Country School and graduated from Canton High School. After she graduated she worked at a Café in Decorah and also in Waterloo at a grocery store. She was united in marriage to Claude Bucheit on September 28, 1954, at St. Agnes Plymouth Rock Catholic Church, rural Burr Oak, IA. Together they lived in Ossian, until they moved near Decorah in 1962, where Gretchen worked for Lang’s Shoe Store, Al’s Furniture in Mabel, MN and Calmar. In 1981, Gretchen owned and operated the Highlander Laundromat until she retired in 2000. Gretchen enjoyed playing cards, fishing, dancing and polka music, golfing with the girls, doing crossword puzzles, visiting the casinos and “Your Place”. Gretchen had a very generous heart and invited all to her home during all holidays. Above all, Gretchen loved her family and grandchildren. She was a member of St. Benedict Catholic Church and St. Marie’s Circle. Gretchen is survived by her husband: Claude Bucheit, Decorah, IA. Four children: Alyn (Lou Ann) Bucheit, Decorah, IA; Claudette Bucheit, Decorah, IA; Jenny (Gary) Klotzbach, Decorah, IA; and Jody (Wendy) Bucheit, Waukon, IA. Nine grandchildren: Tara (Damian) McGrane, Bryan Bucheit, Kayla Bucheit, Emily (Mark) Schneider, Nathan (fiancé, Mallorie) Klotzbach, Andrew Klotzbach, Seth Klotzbach, Sadie and Sully Bucheit. Five great grandchildren: Christine, Cassius and Catalina McGrane, Brinn and Reese Schneider. Three sisters: Madelyn Wise, Decorah, IA; Martha (Jerry) Samuelson, Decorah, IA; and Marian (Al) Schissel, Rice Lake, WI. Two brothers: Gordon (Dorothy) Willson, Rice Lake, WI, and Dennis (Mary) Willson, Marion, IA. One sister-in-law: Joan Schissel, and one brother-in-law: Gerry Bucheit, both of Ossian, IA, along with many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Gretchen was preceded in death by her parents: Leo and Mary (Hyberger) Willson. One sister: Rita (Bob) Lansing. Sisters and brothers-in-law: Wilbur Wise, Quentin (Marcelite) Bucheit, Adrian (LaVon) Bucheit, Mary Bucheit, and Donald Schissel.