Frances Gehret

FORT LORAMIE - Frances Ann (Lange) Gehret, age 92, of Elmwood Assisted Living in New Bremen (formerly of Fort Loramie), passed away peacefully of natural causes Sunday afternoon, October 5, 2025, at Wilson Health Hospital in Sidney, Ohio.

She was born February 11, 1933, in St. Henry, Ohio, to the late Louis & Anna (Selhorst) Lange. On October 2, 1954, at St. Henry Catholic Church in St. Henry, Frances married Lawrence Gehret who preceded her in death on February 25, 2016. Surviving are six of seven children: Bro. Mark Gehret O.F.M. of Greenwood, MS, James & Susan Gehret of Maria Stein, Kenneth Gehret of Sidney, Douglas (dec.) & Sandy Gehret of Fort Loramie, Laura & Eugene Schulze of Sidney, Louis & Karen Gehret of Fort Loramie and Alice & Keith Rindler of St. Henry; 21 grandchildren: Diane & Brian Millis, David & Kayla Gehret, Gregory & Sarah Gehret, Lisa & Douglas Kahlig, Matthew & Ashley Gehret, Gerald & Meghan Gehret, Amy & Joe Knapke, Adam & Kristin Gehret, Erin & Mitchell Schwieterman, Tracy & Charles Oduro, Brian & Krista Schulze, Nathan & LeAnn Schulze, Trisha & Cody Schmiesing, Christina & Steven Cromwell, Mary & Rob Watercutter, Elizabeth & Nick Homan, Steven & Elyse Gehret, Bradley & Heather Rindler, Jared & Brenna Rindler, Collin Rindler & fiancée, Alyssa Armock and Trevor Rindler; 58 great-grandchildren and several sisters & brothers-in-law: Edna Lange of St. Henry, Martha Lange of Wapakoneta, Louis Grieshop of St. Henry, Paul Gehret of St. Henry, Irene Gehret of Frenchtown, Dennis Heitkamp of New Bremen, Eva Gehret of Willowdell, Edward & Mary Lee Gehret of Willowdell, Madonna Gehret of Versailles and Mary Ann & John Kuether of Egypt. She was preceded in death by all of her 11 siblings: Marie & Albert Pottkotter, Elmer & Sally Lange, Cleo & Ralph Strete, Wilma & Sylvester Dues, Sr. Agnes Lange, Cyril & Margie Lange, Rita & Paul "Joe" Schroer, Leroy & Ilene Lange, Eugene Lange, Cletus Lange and Louis Lange as well as sisters & brothers-in-law: Mildred & Virgil Bensman, Alfred & Rose Gehret, Vernon Gehret, Mary Ann Grieshop, Bernice Gehret, Urban Gehret, Emma Rita Heitkamp, Joseph Gehret, Anthony Gehret and Cyril & Margie Gehret.

Mrs. Gehret was a dedicated homemaker and farm wife. She was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church where she had been a CCD teacher, lector and communion distributor. She also belonged to St. Ann's Ladies Sodality and the former Holy Angels Prayer Group. Over the years she had been an active volunteer for Wilson Health Hospice, Holy Angels Soup Kitchen and FISH.

Frances loved her family and especially enjoyed helping her children with their home, farm and business chores. She had a charitable spirit and liked to keep busy, often singing a tune to make work seem enjoyable. Like many of the women in her era, she could cook, bake, garden, can, mend and even make her own soap to fulfil the fondest of memories. Her faith was both important and sustaining for her. By her example, she taught her family what true Christian faithfulness looks like.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30 AM, Thursday, October 9, 2025, at St. Michael Church in Fort Loramie with Rev. Stephen Mondiek presiding. Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery. Family and friends may call Wednesday, 2:00 to 7:00 PM and Thursday 9:00 to 10:00 AM at Gehret Funeral Home in Fort Loramie. Memorials may be made to Franciscan Missions, Wilson Health Hospice or Elmwood Activities. Private condolences may be expressed at the gehretfuneralhome.com website.