Gretchen Ericson

Gretchen Ericson, 84, of Decatur, Indiana and a former longtime resident of Okeechobee, Florida, passed away Tuesday evening, December 8, 2020, at Adams Woodcrest in Decatur.

She was born on May 29, 1936 in Adams County, Indiana to Max and Louise (Boenker) Thieme.

She was married to Paul A. Roehm Jr. and he preceded her in death on August 16, 1968.  She was later married to Nils Eric Ericson and he preceded her in death on May 6, 2016.

Gretchen was a homemaker and was a member of the Peace Lutheran Church in Okeechobee, Florida.

Gretchen is survived by her children, Joyce Anderson of Fort Wayne, IN; Duane (Susan) Roehm of Willshire, OH; Gloria June Lighty of Okeechobee, FL; Deveda Roe of Monroe, IN; Nils (Kathryn) Ericson of Atlanta, GA; Roland (Teresa) Roehm of Willshire, OH; Astrid (Kim) Duke of Ponte Vedra, FL; Rhonda Mowry of Alachua, FL; Nina Bean of Johns Creek, GA; Louise (Lamar) Birdashaw of Okeechobee, FL; Andrew Ericson of Lakeland, FL; Ryan (Kathleen) Roehm of Wauchula, FL; Daryl (Bonnie) Roehm of Okeechobee, FL; Julie Pung of Providence, RI; Carey (Jenny) Pung of Okeechobee, FL; Elizabeth (Antwon) Lewis of Fort Pierce, FL; and Erica Seals of Vero Beach, FL; 55 grandchildren; 60 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Maxine (Donald) Bultemeier of Decatur, IN, Paulette Yates of Okeechobee, FL and Eloise Thieme of Bloomington, IN.

Gretchen was preceded in death by her parents; six brothers, Lester Thieme, Hilbert Thieme, Edmund Thieme, Reuben Thieme, Milton Thieme, and Merlin Thieme; a sister, Thekla Thieme; three sons-in-law, Garland Anderson, Thomas Seals, and David Roe; a daughter-in-law, Tekla Ericson; and a great-granddaughter, Abigail Roehm.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 19, 2020 at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Schumm located at 17434 Schumm Road in Willshire, Ohio with Pastor Jeff Patterson officiating.  You are invited to visit and “like” the Facebook page for Zwick & Jahn where a video will be live streamed Saturday during the service.  It will also be available on the Facebook page for several weeks after the service.

Burial will follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm.

Family and friends will be received on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, Gretchen’s family asks that memorials be given to Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Schumm or Peace Lutheran Church in Okeechobee, FL.  Checks can be mailed to the main business office for Zwick & Jahn.

Arrangements are by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur, Indiana.