Gretchen M. Horyza

Gretchen Mary Oltmanns Horyza peacefully rose to her heavenly home on Friday, August 30, 2024. She was greeted there by her parents Herman and Eva, her sister Lee Hafer, her first husband Jerry McElmurry, her second husband Robert Horyza, and her son-in-law Patrick Flynn.

She was born December 2, 1935, in Duluth, Minnesota and grew up on London Road with her parents, two older brothers and two sisters.

She graduated from Central High School in 1954 and met her first husband Jerry when he hired her for a summer job at Pittsburgh Paint and Glass in Duluth. They married in June of 1955 and had three daughters before his passing in 1964. After his passing, she attended college at UW-Superior, graduating with a teaching degree in 1969. That same year she married Robert Horyza and was blessed to add son Tim to their blended family. She and Bob were married for almost 50 years until his passing in 2018.

Gretchen had a heart for teaching children that was passed down to her from her own mother and spent her career as a first-grade teacher at Birchwood Elementary School in Duluth. She loved learning and reading and had a special interest in history and politics.

She had a love for the Lord and for his Word and spent time with Him daily. She was a praying Mom and Grandma. She had compassion for those who were needy, sick, elderly or home bound and visited them when she was able. She had a love for her family that knew no bounds and was a loving presence in the life of her husband, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She served the Lord in the churches she attended as a Sunday school teacher, librarian, and member of the Altar Guild and prayer teams.

She was an avid golfer and bowler. She loved to attend her grandchildren's sporting events whether it be basketball, swimming, or dance, and always cheered on the Wisconsin Badgers Men's basketball team and the Green Bay Packers. She and her husband Bob also loved to travel in retirement. They wintered in Mesa, Arizona and enjoyed trips around the United States to visit family as well as a once-in-lifetime trip to the Holy Lands.

Gretchen is survived by her daughters Lori Flynn, Lynn (Richard) Reich, and Susan (Chris) Bowles; son Tim (Tamy) Horyza; siblings John Oltmanns, Hank (Anita) Oltmanns, and Phyllis (Lee) Thoni; and her grandchildren Bob (Erica) Horyza, Nate (Tessa) Horyza, Chip (Samatha) Flynn, Matt (Laura) Flynn, Kayti (Bill) Emerson, Jordyn Reich (Tanner Bruhschwein), Alex Reich, Rebecca Bowles, Christopher Bowles (Anna Solomonova), Ethan Bowles (Jacqueline Parker), and Sarah (Rohan) Salhotra; her great grandchildren Emma (Elijah) Blue, Ethan Horyza, Gibson, Winsor, Evie, London, and Whit Horyza, Charlie and Jax Flynn, June and Josie Flynn, Marcie Emerson, Alessandra Parker, and Noah Bowles; good friends Donna and Len; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff of Harmony House in Superior for the care given and friendships formed over the last four years, and also the Essentia Hospice team and staff from Twin Ports Rehab in Superior for their end-of-life care.

A Visitation will be held at 1:30 PM on Sunday, September 15, 2024, at The Lenroot Maetzold Funeral Home, 1209 East Fifth Street in Superior, and will continue until the Service of Remembrance at 2:30 PM with Pastor Dan Stone officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be her eleven grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, make a donation to a church or charity of your choice in her memory or lend a helping hand to someone in need.

To leave a condolence or sign the guestbook, please visit www.lenroot-maetzold.com.