Gertrude Loretta “Gretchen” Kimble, 98, of Inman, KS, passed away at 9:45 p.m., Thursday, December 31st, 2020 peacefully, at Pleasant View Home, Kansas.
Gretchen was born in Bremen, Germany on March 3, 1922, a daughter of Ernestine Marie (Beuke) and William Pfizenmayer.
Gretchen attended the Chicago schools and graduated from Lucy Flowers Technical High School for girls, Chicago, Illinois.
Gertrude Loretta Pfizenmayer was united in marriage to Donald L. Kimble on February 20, 1946 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois. The young couple established their first home together in Chicago, Illinois. The family moved to Inman, Kansas in 1951. This union was blessed with the birth of three children, two daughters and one son, Donna, Ralph, and Linda.
She was a member of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ Inman, Kansas where she served on Church Counsel, taught Kindergarten thru High School Sunday School, was a member of Women’s Fellowship, and served in many other capacities.
Gretchen worked for Bell Telephone Company in Chicago before her marriage. She was a homemaker and she took great pride in providing for her family in this manner and after the children were in school, she worked for Ike’s Jack and Jill grocery store.
Gretchen was a volunteer for the Blood Drives, Inman Senior Center, and Pleasantview Home. She enjoyed sewing, Knitting, watching her children’s and grandchildren’s activities, and spending time with her family. Gretchen valued her time and friends here in Inman more than anyplace she lived.
She is survived by her children, Donna L. Toews and husband Jim, of Inman, Kansas, Ralph Kimble and wife Debbie, of Wichita, Kansas, and Linda Klaassen, of Whitewater, Kansas; her six grandchildren, Dale Hadlock, Allison Taylor and husband Jake, Grant Kimble and wife Julie, Kourt Klaassen and wife Tracy, Derek Klaassen and wife Stacee, and Brent Klaassen and wife Megan; her 14 great-grandchildren, Dominick Hadlock, Alex Taylor, Emma Taylor, Rainy Cook, Max Cook, Fox Cook, Dylan Klaassen, Drew Klaassen, Kole Klaassen, Kynzee Klaassen, Decker Klaassen, Halston Klaassen; several nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
Gretchen was preceded in death by her parents, William and Ernestine Pfizenmayer; her husband Donald; her sisters, Joan Geist, Erna Hartel and Hildy Smeby and two son-in-laws, Tom Klaassen and Larry Hadlock.
A Celebration of Life service will be at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, Inman, Kansas or the Inman Senior Center in memory of Gretchen and they can be sent in care of the Glidden – Ediger Funeral Home; 222 West Euclid Street, McPherson, Kansas 67460.