Gretchen Noon

WADENA — The memorial service celebrating the life of Gretchen Noon of Wadena will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13,  at the St. John Lutheran Church in Wadena, with Pastor Stephen Meltzer presiding. Visitation will be at the church on Friday from 4-7 p.m. and will resume on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the service begins at 11 a.m.. 

After valiantly facing cancer head-on more than once, Gretchen passed away with family at her side Jan. 4, 2024, at her home in Wadena. Through all her trials, she kept her faith and continued to praise God in the storms of life.

Gretchen Elizabeth Jaeger was the fifth child born to Robert and Juliann (Koch) Jaeger Jan. 29, 1962, in Marshall. They were hardworking and loving parents who taught by example. She was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church in Cottonwood, where she also sang in the choir. As a Star Tribune paper route carrier, she earned a trip to Disney Land and Sea World in California. It was her first trip on an airplane! Gretchen graduated with the Cottonwood Class of 1980, having been active in choir, cheerleading, playing flute, volleyball and track. She went on to study elementary education at Southwest State University in Marshall and was a football and basketball cheerleader.

On Dec. 5, 1981, Gretchen married her high school sweetheart, Ronald Alan Noon at Christ Lutheran Church in Cottonwood. She attended Canby AVTI for Dental Assisting and graduated in July 1984, before coming to Wadena and working as a dental assistant for Dr. Dan Boedigheimer (1988-94). The community will also remember Gretchen as a dedicated Early Childhood Special Education paraprofessional at Freshwater and at WDC, as well as the friendly server at Oma’s Restaurant.

With her strong faith, Gretchen was an active church member teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, directing Christmas pageants, and she loved singing with the Joyful Praise group!  She also belonged to Bible Study and a women’s circle. One of her favorite ways to start a summer day was on the front porch, sipping tea, reading her devotional, and praying.  She was a prayer warrior for everyone she knew, and her strengthening verse was “Jesus is my hope.”  Her porch was a sanctuary where she soaked-in the beauty of her flowers and Ben’s tree. It was here that Gretchen often welcomed family, friends and neighbors for a chat. With a passion for reading and flower gardening, she was a member of the local book club and the Verndale Garden Club. Her most joy-filled blessing in life was her family, Ron and their children, Benjamin and Bria.

Gently enfolding Gretchen at her time of death were her parents, Robert and Juliann; beloved son, Benjamin (2001); sisters, MerryBeth Jaeger-Schmidt and Roberta (Steve) Packard;

Forever loved, Gretchen is survived by her devoted husband, Ron of Wadena; daughter, Bria (Tony) DiSanto of St. Louis Park ; siblings, Lowell (JoAnn) Jaeger of Mound and Deanna (Rick) Larson of Ortonville; brother-in-law, Stan Schmidt of Port Orange, FL; numerous nieces and nephews; along with a community of friends.

Serving as urn bearers will be Ron and Tony.

Burial will be in Wadena Cemetery, Wadena.