Gretchen J. Steinhauser

WINTER HAVEN - Gretchen J. Steinhauser, 88, passed away on March 23, at Highland Lakes Center in Lakeland, FL of Congestive Heart Failure. A native of Clarksburg, Ohio, she has called Winter Haven her home for many years. She loved children and worked for several years as a Secretary, first at Grace Lutheren School and later at Lake Shipp Elementary School. Gretchen had an adventurous spirit and fulfilled a life-long dream by skydiving at the age of 75! She loved to travel and was blessed to have spent vacations in Ireland, Switzerland, France, Hawaii, & Austria. She loved Music and the Theater. She performed with the "Sassy Singers: performance group and had acting roles in several musicals presented at the (then) Winter Haven Community Theater (Mame', Music Man', Annie', and Cats'.) Her love of life was so apparent that everyone-young and old alike-just wanted to spend time with her, to hear her talk about things she loved, especially her family. She was always thinking-and doing-for others, even after her health started to decline. She was pre-deceased in death by her husband, Marion J.Steinhauser and her son, Dana L. Steinhauser. She has four surviving children: Larry D. Steinhauser (Charlene) of Haines City, Linda Walker (Bobby) of Polk City, FL, Peggy J. Connolly of Pompano Beach, FL, and Robert W. Steinhauser of Orlando, FL. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandson. Visitation will be held from 10:00-11:00 am Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at Grace Lutheran Church, with the service immediately following at 11:00am. Graveside services will be held at Lakeside Memorial Park in Winter Haven. Contributions can be made to the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, or the Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale, FL. Condolences to the family can be sent to: www.oakridgefuneralcare.com.