Gretchen Sue Poulson

Gretchen Sue Poulson, 85, passed away on November 9, 2015 at Northpark Senior Living in Sioux City under Hospice care. Services will be held at First Lutheran Church in Sioux City, Friday at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Len Halvorson officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Online condolences may be given at www.meyerbroschapels.com. Gretchen Sue Poulson was born in Jamaica, IA on December 7, 1930, the daughter of Ralph and Louis (Doty) Jorgensen. She was the middle child in the family of three daughters and one son. Gretchen was baptized in the Lutheran faith and was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Boxholm, IA. She graduated from Alta High School in 1948. She attended Buena Vista College, Storm Lake, IA for one year before marrying Burton L. Poulson, August 21, 1949 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alta, IA. She then attended the University of Iowa for one year until Burt graduated in 1950. This union was blessed with two children, Jeff (Jan) Poulson and Sue (Wes) Bowers. They had 60 happy years together. After being a stay at home mother for eighteen years Gretchen continued her college education at Briar Cliff College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in May 1971. She then spent 22 years teaching for the Sioux City Community Schools, starting at Whittier Elementary and retiring from Clark Elementary in 1993. Gretchen loved children and enjoyed teaching them. She sang in the First Lutheran choir for many years. She enjoyed reading, gardening, being known as Apple Annie at their orchard and watching her grandchildren and great grandchildren grow up. Her family was her life. She was also an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching her grandchildren's sports activities. She was preceded in death by her husband Burt, her parents, and sister, Shirley Laffin. Gretchen is survived by her son Jeff and daughter-in-law Jan, daughter Sue and son-in-law Wes Bowers; five grandchildren - Matt (Shelley) Bowers, Jackson, WY, Jessica (Chris) Fahy, Lincoln, NE, Jake (Katie) Bowers, Chicago, IL, Whitney (Matt) Schultze, Bozeman, MT, Will (Allison) Poulson, Hinton, IA; Four great grandchildren, Hannah and Ella Poulson, Chloe and Avery