Gretchen M. Thomas

Gretchen M. Thomas, age 84 of Berlin, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at Patriot Place in Berlin, Wisconsin where she resided for the past 6 years. She was born on June 4, 1932 at the Berlin Memorial Hospital, the daughter of the late Carl and Genevieve (Knox) Viertel. Gretchen attended Berlin schools and graduated from Berlin High School in 1950. She then worked for Parson’s Hilltop Drive-in, a t Johnson-Fortnum as a bookkeeper prior to her marriage and at Juliette Manor as a dietary aide for about 18 years after her children were grown. She met the love of her life, Kenneth J. Thomas and they were married September 4, 1954 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Berlin. They enjoyed 60 wonderful years together. Gretchen was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Gretchen always enjoyed a large garden from which she canned vegetables and made pickles. She also was a great cook and baker. Gretchen loved music especially the big band era, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Bing Crosby and Lawrence Welk to name a few, and she loved to dance in her younger days. Gretchen enjoyed playing cribbage, poker and scrabble with family and friends and picking and cracking out hickory nuts wit Ken. And most recently playing bunco, bingo and other games at the Patriot Place and especially going to the musical performances held there. She most loved when family was together for a visit or other celebration and the holidays. Gretchen was a faithful member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church now currently All Saints Parish of Berlin where she was a past member of the Ladies Sodality. Gretchen was preceded in death by her husband Ken on April 21, 2015, by her parents, Carl and Genevieve (nee Knox) Viertel, her sister Charlotte (Sis) (nee Viertel) Mastricola, brother, Norman Viertel and his wife, Lemoyne Viertel. Ken’s parents, Benjamin and Leocadia (nee Ceman) Thomas, brother-in-law James Thomas, sister-in-law Betty Thomas, brothers-in-law George Huser , Donald Nigbor and his wife Kathleen Nigbor and James Nickolaisen. Gretchen is survived by her children, Son, Timothy (Annette) Thomas of West Bend, together with their children, Heather (Armando) Thomas Flores, Brendon Thomas, Rachel ( Joshua) Davis and Lily and Leon Davis; Daughter, Nancy (Donald) Zietlow of Berlin, together with their children, Aaron (Alicia) Zietlow, Nathan, Katie and Carly Zietlow; Son, Steven (Jane) Thomas of Berlin, and their son, Joel Thomas; Daughter, Sara (Peter) Sobralski of Berlin, together with their children Andy (Krista) and Aubrey Sobralski, Jacob (Veronica) and Harlow Jude Sobralski and Luke Sobralski; Daughter, Ann Davis of Oshkosh, together with her children, Theresa Leaming, Kimberly (Ky) Davis and Michele Davis. She is also survived by her sisters, Cynthia Viertel, Donna (Fred) Wessel and brother-in-law Joseph Mastricola. Also surviving are her sisters-in-law, Joan Nickolaisen and Rose Huser, brothers-in-law, Thomas (Judy) Thomas and Lawrence (Phyllis) Thomas, along with many other relatives and friends. Funeral Services with a Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, October21, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the All Saints Catholic Parish of Berlin, with the Rev. Jerome Maksvytis officiating. A graveside service will be held at St. Stanislaus Cemetery after the mass. Immediately following the cemetery service a lunch and fellowship with the family will be held at the All Saints Catholic Parish Hall and all are invited. Relatives and friend may visit with the family and pay their respects to Gretchen on Thursday, October 20, 2016 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Wiecki-Skipchak Funeral Home in downtown Berlin, and again on Friday, October 21, 2016 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. prior to the services. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established. The family would also like to give special thanks to the Patriot Place staff for their special care of our Mom, and most recently the Agnesian Hospice staff. Mom we all love you and we will miss you and your great sense of humor and laughter dearly. You were truly a great inspiration and example of courage to us all with all that you endured in your lifetime. Form further info go to info@berlinfuneral.com WIECKI-SKIPCHAK FUNERAL HOME 116 S. ADAMS AVE. DOWNTOWN, BERLIN, WIS. 54923 920-361-2050 FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1919

Gretchen M. Thomas

June 4, 1932 - October 15, 2016