Gretchen Ann Lohnes

Gretchen Ann Lohnes, 81, of DeWitt, Iowa, died at West Wing Place, Wednesday, July 1, 2009, after a brief illness. There will be no services. Inurnment: Hillside Memorial Park, Redlands, CA. The Cremation Society of Eastern Iowa is in charge of arrangements. Gretchen was born Feb. 4, 1928 in Redlands, CA. She graduated from the University of Redlands in 1948 and began a long journey as a much loved educator. She married Howard E. Lohnes on Jan. 1, 1960 and moved to Kansas City where she taught in the Shawnee Mission School District until her retirement in 1986. As an outstanding teacher and Gifted Education Consultant of 38 years, she received many honors and held many leadership positions. Gretchen is survived by a daughter, Brooke (Dennis) Roling of Charlotte, IA, and three grandchildren, Brittany and Morgan Buck of Great Falls, MT, and Nate Richie of Charlotte, IA. She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents. Memorials can be made to the charity of your choice or your local Humane Society as Gretchen had a great love for animals of all kinds. Gretchen had a great love for animals of all kinds.