Gretchen Anne Brophy's Obituary
Gretchen Anne Brophy, aged 92, passed away Tuesday, January 22, 2019 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The middle child of three children, Gretchen was born December 17, 1926 in Des Moines, Iowa to Lawrence and Lena (Larson) Goetzman.Gretchen had a wonderful childhood in Des Moines surrounded by much love. She was graduated from St. Mary College of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and a minor in English. One of her first teaching positions was in a one-room schoolhouse in Fairbank, Iowa teaching all subjects K-8.In 1949, she was set-up on a blind date with John J. Brophy. They married in November 1950 and they were together over 60 years until his death in 2011. Gretchen and John were blessed with seven children, living in Nebraska, Texas and finally settling in Broken Arrow, OK. She continued teaching, finally retiring in 1987. She remained active working as a substitute teacher and at J. Brophy and Son Furniture and Blind Ambitions. She loved traveling and she found the most joy spending time with her family and watching Notre Dame football. In later years, she could be found reading, playing cards with her grandchildren, watching Wheel of Fortune and on occasion, playing the slots at the casino. She has left us all with irreplaceably precious memories that we will forever hold dear.Gretchen was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, siblings Frances Nelson and Bill Goetzman, and her grandson, Michael Lawrence Brophy.She is survived by her seven children, Robert Brophy (Sherri), John Brophy (Laura), Peggy McKnight (Alton), David Brophy, Thomas Brophy (Kym), Christopher Brophy, Jennifer Herman (Dean). She leaves behind her eleven grandchildren, Troy Bethea (Maria), Gretchen Bethea, Meagan Rau (Adam) Kelly Fischer (Brandon), Patrick Brophy, Andy Brophy, Amelia Brophy, Olivia Brophy, Luke Herman, Josh Herman, Jake Herman and five great-grandchildren with one more on the way. She is also survived by two close nieces, Missy Yoder (Bill) and Valerie Barnes (Bob).
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