Gretchen Bernhardt

Gretchen Bernhardt, 59, of Sheldon, IA died Thursday, September 29, 2011 at her residence. Visitation will be held Monday from 4-8PM, with the family present from 5-7PM at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center, IA. A prayer service for family and friends will be held Tuesday at 9:45AM at Carmel Reformed Church of rural Rock Valley, IA. Interment will follow the prayer service in Carmel Cemetery of rural Rock Valley. A memorial service will be held Tuesday at 10:30AM at the Carmel Reformed Church with Rev. Mark Heijerman officiating. In lieu of flowers, the Bernhardt family prefers memorials be directed to Hope Lodge of Rochester, MN or Mayo Clinic of Rochester, MN. Gretchen Kay Bernhardt was born November 19, 1951 to Louis and Wilma Franken in Sioux Center, Iowa. She attended school in Rock Valley, Iowa until the 5th grade; then attended school in Sioux Center, graduating with the Class of 1970. Northwestern College was where she spent the next 3½ years of her life majoring in elementary education. She married Doug Surat in 1974 and they had two children, Justin and Austin. Gary Bernhardt came into her life in 1987 while working at Hy-Vee in Sheldon, Iowa. They seemed to have a connection and then married in 1989. Their son Jared was born in 1990, and their family was complete. Gretchen had a zest for life and teddy bears. Her collection of teddy bear cookie jars was her prized possession. Gretchen loved her family, enjoyed spending time with them and her closest friends. Her love of sewing got her involved in craft shows and she thoroughly enjoyed it. Even though she will be greatly missed, we will celebrate her life and know that we are lucky to have had her in our lives! Those left to cherish her memory are her soul mate and husband, Gary Bernhardt of Sheldon, her three children: Justin and Lynna Surat of Chandler, AZ, Austin Surat and special friend, Doug Osiecki of San Tan Valley, AZ, Jared Bernhardt and special friend, Emily Smith of Sheldon; five sisters: Judy and Bernie Franken of Sioux Center, Mary and Norm Boeve of Hull, Susan and Doug Ten Napel of Ireton, IA, Kathy Franken of Rock Rapids, IA, Laura Franken of Sioux Falls, SD; two brothers: Leon and Cindy Franken of Carmel, Tom and Leanne Franken of Hawarden along with numerous nieces and nephews. Gretchen is also survived by her father-in-law, Wesley Bernhardt of Odebolt, IA; three sisters-in-law: Sandra and Kenneth Fineran of Norfolk, NE, Linda and Jerry Youngren of Odebolt, IA, Cheryl and Ward Meeves of Yorba Linda, CA and brother-in-law, Keith Bernhardt of Denver, CO. Welcoming her to her spiritual home, is her father and mother, Louis & Wilma Franken, her sister, Ronata Louise Franken, a niece, Greta Sue Ten Napel and mother-in-law, Aloysia (Allie) Bernhardt of Odebolt, IA.