Gretchen Anne Wippel Thatcher Obituary (1970

The adventure that was Gretchens life has come to an end, but what a ride it has been! Gretchen Anne Wippel Thatcher was born on April 21, 1970, at Doctors Hospital in Seattle, Washington and passed away on December 14, 2020, surrounded by her family, in Ellensburg, WA. She was raised by Bonnie Petersen, a single mother until 1981, when Bonnie married James Petersen, who also fell in love with Gretchen and raised her as his own. Gretchen was born with three strikes against her but she never let it define who she was. She was a sweet, good natured child, albeit rather stubborn at times. She spent many days over her first 18 years in Childrens Hospital in Seattle. It was here, that at age two, she finally received the correct diagnosis of a spinal injury occurring during the birth process. From then on, the hospital provided the support she needed to live a productive life. The Ellensburg School District adapted to her needs and she flourished. When she started kindergarten, the school decided she should spend part of her day in a resource room because "she would need extra help." That lasted one day! She graduated from Ellensburg High School with honors in 1988, where she served as ASB Secretary. Her campaign motto was "I wont walk out on the job," an early indication of Gretchens wicked sense of humor. She graduated from Central Washington University with honors in 1992, despite the wisdom of an "expert" who had told her that she was not college material. As a Political Science major, she was active in Model United Nations. After spending one year as a legislative liaison in Olympia for the CWU Student Government, she attended the S. J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City graduating in 1996 where she received the David T. Lewis Clinical Achievement Award for her contribution to the Salt Lake Legal Defenders Association as part of the Criminal Clinic. In spite of her various health issues, Gretchen still managed to live a very full life. She worked for Central Washington Disability Resource for 20 years until her health failed her. She served on the City of Ellensburg Planning Commission for nine years and was active in St. Andrewss Parish. She also served on numerous state and local committees. On February 15, 2003, she and Gordon William Thatcher were married, thus uniting two unique individuals who complemented one another perfectly. They enjoyed a love of music. They enjoyed traveling and made multiple trips to Boston, Phoenix, Victoria, Washington D.C., and Hawaii. One of the highlights of Gretchens life was meeting Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam outside the Wolf Mountain Venue in June 1995, in Salt Lake City. The concert had been cancelled, due to rain, thunder, and lightning. She sat out in the rain, next to a chain link fence where Eddies trailer was situated. He came out and talked to her and then gave her an autographed t-shirt. Gretchen made many friends over the years and kept in touch with high school, college and law school classmates. She was greatly loved by her family, but, especially her parents, who could not have been more proud of her. Gretchen is survived by her husband, Gordon; her parents, Bonnie and James Petersen of Poulsbo; her in-laws, Robert and Loretta Thatcher of St. Maries, Idaho; her aunts: Mary Wippel, Teresa (Matt) Wippel, Susanne (Ken) Combs, Susan (Don) Selix; Jan (Doug) Berry and her uncle Clifford (Debbie) Wippel, as well as many cousins. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Maurice (Mose) and Ruth Wippel, Helen Rarden, and Thelma and Will Wolfer; and her beloved cat, Elliette. "Dont cry because you miss her, smile because you knew and loved her." Gretchens family would like to extend a special thank you to her caregivers, some of whom have been with her for more than a decade. We would also like to thank the doctors and nurses at Kittitas Valley Hospital for the care she received during her stays and also to Kittitas Valley Hospice nurses, especially Elena, for guiding the family through a difficult time. A very special thank you to Dr. Byron Haney and his staff for the love, care and compassion they gave to Gretchen while she was a patient. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a private family graveside service will be held. When it is safe for gatherings, there will be a Mass and Celebration of Life. Memorial donations in Gretchens name can be made to the Gretchen Weller Foundation, www.gretchenwellerfoundation.com, Seattle Childrens Hospital or the American Cancer Society.