Gretchen Naegeli

On Sunday, August 15th, the Feast Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and in the hour of His Divine Mercy at 3:05pm, Gretchen Kathleen O'Brien Naegeli went to be with our Lord. She was born in Brainerd, Minnesota, February 14th, 1935 to Gretchen Kleiner O'Brien and George Francis O'Brien. She graduated from St. Francis High School, Little Falls, MN and attended Brainerd Community College and Minnesota School of Business.

She met her beloved husband, Robert Bruce Naegeli, while they were both working at Many Glacier. They married June 8th, 1957 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd, MN. Together they raised their children in Apple Valley, MN for 28 years and then retired to their lake home in Brainerd. Eventually they headed to Texas for 8 years before returning to St. Paul, MN for 13 years. Once her husband passed last year, after 63 years of marriage, Gretchen moved to Kalispell, MT.

Gretchen is survived by her daughter Karrin (Don) Sax and grandchildren Jakob, Noah and Hannah of Florence, Montana; son Robert Scott Naegeli and grandchildren Katie, Nick and Ali of Burnsville, Minnesota; and daughter Nancee (Al) Olszewski and grandchildren Sierra, Megan, Al Michael, Daniel, Alaura and Josie of Kalispell, Montana. In addition to her three children, twelve grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, she is survived by her brother William (Terry) O'Brien of St. Augustine, FL and numerous loving nieces and nephews.

Gretchen was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Naegeli, parents George F. and Gretchen O'Brien and her brothers Joseph, George Jr., James and John.

Funeral Mass will be held Friday, August 20th, 11am at St. John Paul II Catholic Church in Bigfork, Montana with a rosary preceding Mass at 10:30am.

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