Gretchen I. Ficken

Ficken, Gretchen Irene
(nee Koerwitz), 78, of West Allis, Wisconsin, was born to eternal life with Christ on May 8, 2016 at Village of Manor Park. She was born March 24, 1938 in Neenah, Wisconsin, the daughter of the late Norman and Helen (nee Weyland) Koerwitz and baptized into our Lord’s family. She lived most of her early years in Niles, Michigan and graduated from high school there. She moved to Milwaukee where she graduated from Milwaukee Hospital School of Nursing and received her RN degree. She worked at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin for 38 years, receiving the Nursing of the Year award, and helping families and children battling childhood cancer. She worked in Hematology, Oncology, Transplant (HOT) unit until transferring to the HOT Clinic. She made many wonderful close friends with the families. Gretchen joined St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in West Allis when she moved to Milwaukee. She served her Lord faithfully as a Sunday School teacher, Adult Bible Study Teacher, and as Parish Nurse until just a few years ago. She met and married her husband of 54 years (May 12, 1962) at St. Paul’s. She is survived by her husband John of West Allis; her sister Naomi (Richard Dassow) of Cedarburg; her sister-in-law Janet Koerwitz (nee Sekki) of Painsville, Ohio; her son John (Mona nee Jaskie) of Castle Rock, Colorado and their children Matthew, Sarah (My Nguyen) and children Dylan and Lelah; Rachel; her son Rev. David (Kris nee Mack) of Plover, Wisconsin and their children, Rebekah, Tigist, and Abush; her son Rev. Paul (Nichole nee Brook) of Racine, Wisconsin and their children Timothy, Lily, Lucy, Nathaniel, Levi, Theodore, and Obadiah; and her nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother Norman K Koerwitz.

Visitation Friday, May 13 at ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 7821 W. Lincoln Ave., West Allis from 4-5:45 PM with funeral service at 6:00 PM. Private interment Chapel Hill Cemetery. If so desired, memorials to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church appreciated.

Thank you for all of your prayers and support. Thank you to all for helping with meals and refreshments

Heritage Funeral Homes
heritagefuneral.com