Gretchen Foertsch

Funeral services for Gretchen Foertsch, a 73-year-old Buffalo resident who passed away Saturday at the Amie Holt Care Center in Buffalo will be held Saturday, September 3rd, at 2:00 p.m. at Harness Funeral Home in Buffalo with Pastor Rene Castillero officiating.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 1st from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Harness Funeral Home Chapel.  Interment will be at Willow Grove Cemetery in Buffalo with graveside services to follow the funeral.  Donations in Gretchen’s memory may be made to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation to speed a cure at https://www.michaeljfox.org/donate. Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com,  where the service will also be live-streamed.

Gretchen MaryLou Foertsch was born on August 21, 1948, in Chamberlain, South Dakota to Henry and Eleanor Kiehn.  She grew up and went to school in South Dakota and attended Sturgis High School in Sturgis, South Dakota.  She was married on June 16, 1969, in Newcastle, Wyoming to Bruce Foertsch and they made their home in Gillette, Wyoming where Gretchen clerked in a grocery store.  In November of 1969, they moved to Rapid City, South Dakota where she worked in an electronics assembly plant.  In 1972 they moved to Newcastle, Wyoming where she was a homemaker, and they raised their family. Over the years she worked at various retail jobs and operated a cleaning service.  In 1997 they moved to Winnemucca, Nevada where she worked for the Humbolt Sun Newspaper.  In 2004 they moved to Buffalo, Wyoming where she retired and became a full-time grandmother.  She continued living in Buffalo until her death.

Gretchen was an accomplished quilter and made many, many quilts, most of which she gave away to family, friends, and even strangers who were in need.  She was an avid fisherman, she enjoyed gambling and loved playing all card games. Her passion was spending time with her family, her dogs, and her quilts. She is survived by her husband Bruce Foertsch of Buffalo; three daughters, Desiree Fisher-Tate and her husband Larry of Fulshear, Texas, Roxanne Hewitt and her husband Bruce of Katy, Texas, and their two children, and Amanda Sharpes and her husband Paul of Newcastle, Wyoming, and their five children; three brothers Pete, Dennis and Wayne Kiehn; three sisters, June Malsom, Diane Malsom,  Sharon Striefel and Sally Fisher.  She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Dowart, Henry, and Sheryle Kiehn, and one sister Janice Fhroenke.