Gretchen Gaunt

Gretchen (Hopman) Gaunt passed away peacefully on the morning of November 4, 2015, in Evansville, Indiana. A strong vibrant woman of intellect and judgment, Gretchen was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her father, Frederick Carl Hopman died in the 1918 flu pandemic leaving her mother, Anna Boyer Hopman to raise five children. The family lived near Chicago in Hammond, Indiana, where she and Frederick’s brother owned a successful dry cleaning business.

As a child, Gretchen spent joyful summers on Magician Lake in Michigan, a tradition that continued throughout most of her life. She graduated from Indiana University, where she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. Here she met Burmond J Gaunt. Well matched, they eloped to Bedford, Kentucky, to be married, but had to keep it a secret because only single women were allowed to teach school.

Gretchen and Burmie raised their family in Dunkirk, Indiana, where Gretchen taught physical education, biology, and science in Dunkirk and Albany high schools. Their family continued the tradition of joyful summers on Magician Lake swimming, sailing, canoeing, and rocking on the front porch. After retirement, Gretchen and Burmie moved back to the Bloomington area. After Burmie died in 1994, Gretchen moved to Evansville, Indiana, to be near her daughter, Jane. For the next twenty years, Jane became more than a daughter as she cared for Gretchen with dignity—sacrificing her time and energy in this companionate service.

Gretchen is survived by her children: David (LaRene) Gaunt of Sandy, Utah; Jane Gaunt of Evansville, Indiana; Lorraine (Mike) Dorough of McDonough, Georgia; and her grandchildren: Angela Gaunt, Dennis (Natalie) Gaunt, and Lisa (Tracy) Mangum all of Utah. She was preceded in death by her daughter Linda (Steven) Hammonds of San Antonio, Texas; siblings: Helen (Ralph) Kellison; Elizabeth (Edward) Dose; Frederick (Marian) Hopman; and Anne Hopman; and three grandchildren who died as infants.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM, Tuesday, November 10, 2015, at Alexander West Chapel, officiated by Rev. Arlene Okey. Friends may visit Tuesday, November 10, 2015, from 1:00 PM until service time at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wesselman Nature Preserve or Solarbron Point Library. Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderWestChapel.com