Gretchen L. (Lowry) Wirtz

Gretchen L. Wirtz, age 87 of the Cloverleaf Lakes in the Town of Belle Plaine, Shawano County, WI (formerly of East Moline, IL), passed away surrounded by her family at her home on Wednesday evening May 21, 2025. A devoted wife, loving mother, and proud grandmother and great-grandmother, Gretchen lived a full and beautiful life marked by warmth, generosity, and a boundless love for her family and friends.

Gretchen Lowry was born on March 30, 1938 in Chicago, IL; the daughter of the late Herb and Gretchen (Best) Lowry. Gretchen earned her Bachelor’s of Arts, Elementary Education from the University of Iowa where she belonged to Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. She began her working career as a 1st Grade Teacher in Cedar Rapids, IA. She was united in marriage to Mel Wirtz on July 30, 1960 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Rock Island, IL  Living in the Quad Cities, Gretchen was known by many from her work at the Chateau Boutique, her service on the Junior Service League in Moline, IL, and her involvement in many activities with her daughters. Gretchen cherished playing Bridge with her good friends as they often got more talking in than hands of cards.

The couple moved to the Clintonville, WI area in 1989 and became members of St. Rose Catholic Church where Gretchen was a member of the PCCW. She and Mel loved traveling the world in retirement; Germany was their favorite destination. The couple also looked forward to spending the winters at their home in Florida where many of their friends from Pine Lake and the surrounding area also resided.  Fourth of July at the lake was her favorite holiday as it meant gathering with family for fireworks and their annual Bingo game. She was devoted to her family, loved music and theater, and was a ballet dancer in her youth. Gretchen was a talented baker and was known by her grandchildren as the “Cookie Grandma”. She was a hands on mother and grandmother who attended as many of their activities as she could and was always cheering them on in the stands. She will be remembered for her kindness, her vibrant spirit, and the enduring love she had for Mel and her girls.

Survivors include: Her Husband: Mel Wirtz.
Daughters: Christine (Tom) Hinkley, Laurie (Steve) Lulow, and Kari (Jon) Dunlap.
Grandchildren: Nick Hinkley, Meghan (Dustin) Stember, Ryan (Rose) Hinkley, Gretchen Lulow, Trent Lulow, Annelise (Danny) Berg, Remi (Ryan) Kairis, and Bryce, Braden, & Cort Dunlap.
Great-Grandchildren: Sloane & Barrett Stember and Parker Hinkley.

Sister: Kay Neff.

She was preceded in death by her parents Herb and Gretchen Lowry, a brother Phil (June) Lowry, sisters Pat (Del) Lawson and Jan (Dick) VanVoorhis, and parents-in-law Alfred and Marguerite Wirtz, as well as other beloved extended family members.

Gretchen’s Memorial Mass will be held Saturday July 5, 2025 at 11am at St. Rose Catholic Church in Clintonville with Fr. Timothy Shillcox, O. Praem, officiating. Interment will be at a later time at St. Rose Cemetery in Clintonville. Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday July 5, 2025 from 10am until the time of service. Mel and family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at ThedaCare Cancer Center for their care and compassion for Gretchen, as well as ThedaCare at Home Hospice for their care and assistance when it was greatly needed. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Gretchen’s memory be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation (please enter hinkley2@aol.com for the email notification) or  St. Jude Children's Research Hospital charities. The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory of Clintonville is assisting Gretchen’s family. www.eberhardtstevenson.com