Remembering Gretchen Antje Liste Meiser
Gretchen had rheumatoid arthritis. However, it was relatively well controlled until 2008. The photograph was taken at Crater Lake National Park in summer 2008. The disease had started to attack her lungs, and at this point she was using oxygen as needed. Her condition deteriorated during the next year to the point that she spent a week at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. By this time she was on oxygen 24/7. The winter of 2009-2010 was particularly difficult for her. A number of hospital stays and two 911 responses. She lost weight over her last two years and was under 100 pounds when she passed.
She was hospitalized in late May 2010. Nonetheless, the morning she was released from the hospital we left for our daughter's arriving in time for the high school graduation ceremony of our granddaughter and step granddaughter in Paw Paw, Michigan. Then in mid June we hosted my family's national reunion in Bloomington, Indiana, that we had been planning for three years. After that we went to my sister's in Michigan City, Indiana. Next it was back to our daughter's in Mattawan, Michigan for our granddaughter's graduation party in late June. While we were in Mattawan waiting for our step granddaughter's graduation party Gretchen was hospitalized and went into cardiac arrest during a CT scan procedure.
The following pages contain:
Eulogy delivered by our daughter, Kimberly Ann Meiser Frank
• We held two memorial services for Gretchen. The first was at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Paw Paw, Michigan on July 7, 2010 for friends and family in northern Indiana and southern Michigan. The second was July 17 at her home church, St. John's Episcopal, in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan for friends in northern Michigan and Wisconsin. Our daughter delivered this eulogy at both services. Our son also spoke about Gretchen. However, he is an experienced public speaker and always speaks
without notes or text.
• My remembrance
• Except from her church's newsletter
• Certificate of Appreciation
• Gretchen was an organ donor. Her donation was recognized at a May 2011 ceremony in Grand Rapids.
• Michigan Gift of Life Quilt Patch
• Family members of organ and tissue donors have an opportunity to create a quilt square to honor their family member. Each original patch is used to make one of dozens of donor quilts displayed at events and memorials statewide to spread the message of organ donation. This is the square our daughter created. It reflects the thoughts and feelings she expressed in her eulogy. The iris is an original drawing by our daughter which Gretchen loved.
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One of Mom's favorite flowers is the iris. I recently read that the purple iris can symbolize everything from courage to hope and faith. Mom had all three: courage, hope and faith. She had the courage to stand up for what is right and just. The courage to speak up for those who could not. The courage to try new experiences.
Mom was a Hospice volunteer for years. She also took care of two adult mentally disabled brothers when I was a teen. When I was a small child, Mom & Dad were foster parents to babies and toddlers. I fondly remember Tracie, Kurt and Lisa. These were special needs kids. One had breathing problems, another probably had ADHD and one had fetal alcohol syndrome. Of course these medical terms didn't exist in the 70's. Later on, when no one else would have her, she fostered Wanda who was a troubled teenager. Mom spent time as a Cub Scout Den mother. She was a Frat Mom to LSSC's Lambda Sigma Beta for a couple of years. My mom even took in several of Dad's students when they needed a place to stay.
When Mike and I were young adults and off on our own we ran into a few snags. Mom was right there for us. She spent two years with Mike in Bloomington, Indiana while he recovered from a near fatal car accident. When I divorced and needed to get back into the workforce, Mom came to Kalamazoo to for a few years to take care of my small daughters so I could start over. She looked after Katy and Aubrey until they were both old enough to attend school.
All of these outpourings of love and kindness took courage. I never rea1ly thought much about these things as they happened. I started recalling everything last night as I sat down to write. Maybe the reason I never thought much about her courage and generosity was because it was no big deal for mom to do all these wonderful things. It's just her nature. It's who she is.
Mom instilled the values of sharing our God given gifts with others and a strong work ethic. Mike and I, our childhood friends and even her granddaughters learned so much from her. Someone just posted on facebook that my Mom was Wonderwoman. Although Mom would have never thought she was Wonderwoman, I do have to agree with my friend.
Let me talk about hope for a moment. Mom hoped about many things. She hoped that her children would have a better life than hers. She hoped that each generation that follows has even better lives. Mom hoped that others would not have to endure pain and suffering. She hoped for cures to diseases and medical afflictions. I'm sure she had many hopes and dreams of which I am not aware.
And now Mom's faith. She had a deep faith in God. She was so moved by the Spirit that she studied to become a Deacon in the church. This was in the 80's when women Spiritual leaders were not yet commonplace.
Mom's faith is what brings me peace today. I too have faith; the same faith that Mom has. I know where she is. I was present when she left this earth. I know she is in the most awesome place with the Lord. Heaven received a beautiful soul when Mom arrived.
So today I ask that you too will have courage. Courage is defined as mental or moral strength to venture, persevere and withstand difficulty. Our loss of my Mother, Gretchen, is difficult for us but let us celebrate Gretchen's life and how blessed we are to have known her.
I hope for myself and each one of you that we hold tight our precious memories of the time spent with my Mother. Hope is defined as cherishing a desire with anticipation.
My want for you is that you have faith. Faith that we follow the Lord. That someday, we will rest our weary heads in the awesome heavens with our Savior. One day I will be blessed enough to be with my Mother again and so will you if you have faith. Faith is defined as a strong belief and complete trust in and loyalty to God.
As we remember the daughter, the sister, the wife, the mother, the aunt, the cousin, the grandmother, and the friend that we had in Gretchen, my hope for you is that you have the courage and faith that we will be together with her again.
I miss your smile and laughter. God bless you and keep you sweet mommy. I love you.
Kimberly Ann Meiser Frank, July 6, 2010
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Gretchen made my life complete. She was always at my side supporting my career--personally and some times financially. Gretchen was a very caring person--being a mom not only to her kids, but also foster kids. On numerous occasions she was a substitute mom to her kids' friends and my students.
Gretchen was a tireless supporter of her church visiting home-bound and nursing home patients. She was a Hospice volunteer. We on Earth miss her very much, but we rejoice in her being in a better place. No more illness. No more pain. Love you Gretch. I hope it was as good for you as it was for me. Until we meet again.
Charlie
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REMEMBERING GRETCHEN MEISER
Let us take time to remember and celebrate the work that Gretchen did as a Christian here at St. James’ and also with her life in the Sault Ste. Marie community. Gretchen took a leadership role in the 80’s to serve in the role as Deacon; we need to remember that it was a time when women deacons were not recognized. She served at the daily Sunday services with scripture readings and prayers. She did home communions and family visitations at homes and the hospital. She was attuned to issues of justice and peace. She also went beyond the community of St. James’ Church and the Sault to attend Diocesan meetings.
Kim (Meiser) Frank during the eulogy gave a great snap shot of Gretchen in her home life. Kim talked about herself and her brother Mike growing up. Even after they were grown and gone they each had family crisis (as we all know grown children have) and Gretchen was there to help. Gretchen and Charles were foster parents to babies and toddlers with various physical and mental issues. She also was a Cub Scout Den mother. A frat mom at one of the LSSU’s fraternity’s and a Hospice volunteer.
Words echoed from my sermon and Kim’s eulogy of Gretchen’s love, faith and hope. It was Gretchen’s faith that brought peace to her family at the time of her death. —Submitted by Selden Collins
Source: September 2010 CHIMES, St. James’ Episcopal Church, Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, pp. 1-2.
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(From 1992 Reunion) Gretchen Liste Meiser and husband Charlie live in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Gretchen is active in their church and is volunteer co-
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