Gretchen Sanny

Gretchen Stevenson Sanny, 95, of Atlantic, passed away Saturday, January 12, 2008 at the Allen House in Atlantic, Iowa.

Gretchen was born April 28, 1912, on the family farm in Clark Township, Shelby County, Iowa to John Garfield and Ruth (Herbert) Stevenson.

Gretchen remembered moving from the Shelby County farm to the farm south of Buck Creek Church at the age of 4.

As a child she began studying piano at an early age with the late Marie Cavanaugh, playing in her yearly recitals and giving lessons to country girls in the summer. As an accomplished pianist she would perform for family social gatherings and Buck Creek Methodist Church services. Gretchen was an early member of the first 4-H Pymosa Club and President of the Cass County Girls 4-H clubs in 1928. She represented Cass County in the Health category at the Iowa State Fair and at the State 4-H Girls Convention at Ames, Iowa.

She played the cornet and sang in the Girl's Glee Club while attending Atlantic High School graduating in 1930. She then became a sales lady at the late S. J. Marhsall's store in Atlantic. She took Normal Training Education to prepare for being a school teacher. She taught country school at Pymosa #4 two years and Pymosa #5 one year.

On November 25, 1933, Gretchen married Clarence Donald Sanny at the Stevenson home on Buck Creek Road north of Atlantic. They became a farm family living near Marne, Atlantic, and Griswold. They retired and moved to Atlantic in 1980.

Gretchen was a lifelong member of United Methodist Church. She was a current member of the First United Methodist Church in Atlantic. She was a member of the Sarah circle for many years. Gretchen and Clarence's faith was the foundation of their life together for 70 years.

Surviving Gretchen are two sons, Lynn R. Sanny (Mary) of Indian Head Park, Illinois, Bruce D. Sanny (Sharon) of Hemet, California, one daughter Beverly L Harden of New Smyrna Beach, Florida; ten grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren; one dear sister, Ruth Alyce Mayberry of Northridge, California.

Gretchen is preceded in death by her husband Clarence, a daughter Delores Carolyn , her parents, John and Ruth Stevenson, her mother and father in law, George and Sophie Sanny, her dear sister Marjorie Westphalen, brother in laws Johnnie Westphalen and Irwin Mayberry and nephew Don Westphalen.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 18, 2008, at the First United Methodist Church in Atlantic.

Public visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, January 17, 2008, with the family present from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic.

A private, family committal service will be held in the Atlantic Cemetery, prior to the service.