Gretchen Schaleger, 79, of Sweet Home, Oregon passed away Saturday, February 20, 2016. She was born in Aurora, Illinois to Alfred and Adeline (Bottolfsen) Klomhaus.

She grew up in Aurora, Illinois and Rogue River, Oregon. She graduated from University of Oregon Medical School, School of Nursing, Portland in 1958. She worked in the field of nursing before becoming a homemaker for her family. She has lived in Chicago, Illinois, Buffalo, New York, St. Louis, Missouri, Veneta, Oregon, Caldwell, Idaho, Medford, Oregon, and moved to Sweet Home in January of 1984.

Gretchen loved calligraphy and paper-crafting, craft projects for bazaars, sewing, crossword puzzles, reading and book club, and Sparkles the cat. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

She is survived by children Christine, John, David, Ruth, Martha; brother Gilbert Klomhaus; 15 grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.

Gretchen was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Rollin “Ron” Schaleger, in 1999.

Memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 12, at Bethel Lutheran Church.

Memorial contributions may be made in Gretchen’s name to Friends of the Library in Sweet Home or P.E.O. Scholarships (make checks payable to OSC PEO Sisterhood Charitable Trust) in care of Sweet Home Funeral Chapel.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.