Gretchen M. Myers, 83, of Cedar Falls. died Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at Western Home Communities Martin Center. Gretchen was born August 7, 1924, in Sheldon, Iowa, daughter of Dr. Judson W. and Teresa K. Bowen Myers. She graduated from Postville High School, Postville. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in speech and English from the University of Iowa in 1947, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
She taught English, speech, and Spanish for five years in the public schools of Iowa and Minnesota. She worked for the American Red Cross in the Far East during the Korean War. She then served as a program director at student unions at the Universities of Illinois, Hawaii, and Connecticut. She received her master's degree in library science from Rosary College, River Forest, Illinois, in 1965. She worked as a reference librarian at Carleton College and, beginning in 1967, as a reference librarian for the University of Northern Iowa. She retired in 1989.
Gretchen is survived by two cousins, Dale Bowen of Fridley, Minnesota, and Alice Bowen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was preceded in death by a brother, Dr. Robert Myers; a sister, Patricia; and a cousin, Fr. Robert Wellish.
Memorial services: 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 21, 2008, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Cedar Falls, with burial in Postville Cemetery, Postville. Public visitation for an hour before services Monday at the church.
Memorials: may be directed to St. Stephen the Witness Catholic Student Center.
Adapted from information in the Waterloo Courier, July 18, 2008, page A8, and the Richardson Funeral Home service booklet.