Gretchen Wiseman Locker passed away Sept. 24, 2022 in Grinnell, IA. at the age of 95. Gretchen was born Sept. 21, 1927 to Will and Zula Wiseman in Grinnell, IA. She was united in marriage to Dale Locker in Jasper Co. on April 19, 1946. Dale passed away Dec. 3, 2003.

Gretchen graduated from Gilman High School and attended Cornell College. She taught school for a short time In Gilman and later worked as a nurse aide in Dr. Wiltfang's office in Grinnell.

As a lifelong member of the Gilman Methodist Church, she held several offices, taught Sunday School, Bible School and was choir director. She was a member of the Good Neighbor Club, Tuesday Progress Club, Today and Tomorrow Club and the United Methodist Women.

Gretchen and Dale farmed two miles east of Gilman. Gretchen's greatest joy was family life on the farm and raising her children. The family enjoyed yearly visits to Leech Lake, Minn., and later vacationed in Florida and Arizona.

Gretchen is survived by 4 children, Steve (Deb) Locker of Nevada, Ia., Jeri Lynn (Richard) Ryan of Atlantic, Ia., Carol Locker of Carol Stream, Ill. and Margaret (Chris) Draffen of Northville, N.Y.; 5 grandchildren — Dustin (Erin) Achenbach of Tabor, Ia., Jon (Ali) Locker of Johnston, Ia., Will (Nella) Locker of Des Moines, Ia., Emily (Stephen Garrett) Draffen of Memphis, Tenn., and Sarah (Pedro Carbajal) Draffen of Chicago, Ill.; 4 great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law Dorothy Wiseman and Barbara Campbell, several nieces and nephews and dear friend Jerry Stanton of Hopkins, Minn.

Gretchen was preceded in death by her spouse, Dale Locker, infant daughter Portia Diane, her parents, brothers Herb and Bill Wiseman, and sister Flora Rosenberg.

A funeral service will be held 11:00 AM, Thursday, September 29, 2022 at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell, IA. A luncheon will immediately follow the service, in the Heritage Room at Smith Funeral Home. Interment will be at Prairie View Cemetery in Gilman, IA, following the luncheon.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 AM, one hour prior to the service at the Smith Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can go to UnityPoint Hospice of Grinnell, St. Francis Manor Foundation (Human Needs Fund), or charity of your choice

The funeral service will be livestreamed on the Smith Funeral Home Facebook page. See link below.

https://www.facebook.com/SmithFuneralHomeCremationService