Gretchen Burroughs

1930 - 2025

Gretchen Burroughs
Born: October 18, 1930
Died: November 27, 2025
Gretchen Annette Burroughs (née Kraus), age 95, of Harvard, Illinois, passed away on Thursday, November 27, 2025. Daughter of the late Edward and Anna (Corey) Kraus, Gretchen was born on October 18, 1930, in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. In 1948 she graduated from Dover High School, Dover, New Jersey. She earned a Bachelor of Art degree in sociology at Keuka College in Keuka Park, New York. On January 23, 1954, Gretchen was united in marriage with Gerard "Tom" Burroughs Jr. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Gretchen believed strongly in the value of a good education and began her career as a school guidance counselor in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. After a break to care for her young children, she taught 4th grade for many years at St. Thomas School in Crystal Lake. She was an active member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Harvard for over 30 years, and more recently, a member of St. Benedict Church in Fontana, Wisconsin.
Gretchen was a loving and dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. She showed her love and commitment to family and friends by cooking their favorite meals, decorating her home, and gathering them for holidays or special events. Gretchen's life was guided by her Catholic faith and she willingly shared her time and talent with others. She volunteered as an adult ESL tutor, on church committees and as a reading buddy at St. Joseph School.
Gretchen enjoyed knitting, gardening, visiting with others, and traveling. She and Tom traveled throughout the United States as well as abroad in Europe, Central America, the Caribbean and Australia. They shared their love of travel and the outdoors by bringing their grandchildren on vacations to western national parks. Gretchen had a fondness for their many dogs over the years and especially enjoyed Brittanys. She and Tom traveled frequently to Field Trials in the midwestern and southern states. Gretchen loved to read and stayed informed about current events. Along with Tom, she enjoyed watching her son Jim playing baseball and football at Marian High School. Her smile brought happiness to many. People remember her as kind, organized, and interested in others.
Gretchen is survived by her loving husband of 71 years, Tom Burroughs; children, Kathleen (James) Okkema, Gerard "Tom" (Bonnie) Burroughs III; and James (René) Burroughs; grandchildren, Timothy (Laura) Okkema, Claire (Tim) Vogel, Evalana Burroughs, James Burroughs and William Burroughs; great-grandson, Henry Okkema; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
In death, she is reunited with her parents and her sister, Helene (Willard) Benson along with many friends and relatives.
Visitation will be held from 9:00AM until 10:30AM on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home, 107 W. Sumner St., Harvard, IL, 60033. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 206 E. Front St., Harvard. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Gretchen's honor to Marian Central Catholic High School, 1001 McHenry Dr., Woodstock, IL 60098, https://e.givesmart.com/events/zme/ or to Keuka College: https://www.givecampus.com/schools/KeukaCollege/day-of-gratitude.
Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home of Harvard is honored to serve the Burroughs family. Online guestbook at saundersmcfarlin.net. Call 815-943-5400 for more information.