Gretchen Van Horn

April 7, 1947 - December 11, 2012

Gretchen van Horn, age 65, of Southampton, on December 11, 2012. Beloved wife of Eric L. Kratschmer, together 15 years. Devoted daughter of Marian F. (nee Murphy) and the late William R. van Horn. Loving sister of William "Mike" van Horn and half-siblings Virginia Carter, Patricia van Horn and her companion Laura Sleevi, and William R. van Horn, Jr. Loving sister-in-law of Randy A. Kratschmer and his companion Mary Bruno; sister-in-law of Robin A. Kratschmer; and daughter-in-law of Robert L. Kratschmer.

There will be a Celebration of Gretchen's life in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday, July 13, from 10:00-12:00. The service will be at the All Souls Unitarian Church at the corner of 45th and Walnut. All are invited to attend and share their memories of Gretchen.

Born in Boonville, MO, Gretchen lived in several different cities with her mother until settling in Kansas City, where she attended Southwest High School. After graduating from Monmouth College in Monmouth, IL, she returned to Kansas City and in 1973 opened a dress shop, The Flummery, in the River Quay district and founded her clothing company, Gretchen Inc.

She operated her company for the next 26 years, creating her own designs and doing the manufacturing on-site, where she also advised her patrons on how to coordinate their wardrobes and to dress for success. At her peak she employed more than 30 people and had sales representatives across the country. An example of one of her early jackets is on display at the Kansas City Union Station museum.

Gretchen was also a mentor. During the last several years that she operated Gretchen Inc., she took under her wing a woman who had come to her asking for help and guidance in opening a clothing business of her own. The arrangement worked out so well that the company – WomenSpirit, Vestments for Women – has become a leading manufacturer of vestments for women ministers, and the owner, Patty Fitzpatrick, and Gretchen became close friends for life.

While in Kansas City, Gretchen was a founding member (and for a time served as president of) the Kansas City Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. In that capacity, she testified before a Congressional sub-committee on small business issues. She was also a neighborhood activist and in the late ’90s gave a speech espousing neighborhood rights before the mayor and City Council of Kansas City.

Her love of architecture led her to document via hand sketches many of the details of the homes being razed in the Quality Hill area during Kansas City's expansion. Those drawings reside with the Kansas City Public Library. She frequently explored the older homes and neighborhoods with her friend Yvonne Jameson.

After moving to Upper Southampton, Gretchen embarked on a new chapter in her life. She served as a docent at Fonthill Castle in Doylestown for a year, and several years later she and husband Eric were married in Fonthill's Columbus Room. She also volunteered with Women Build/Habitat for Humanity in Bucks County.

She worked at George School in Newtown for 11 years as Enrollment Coordinator/School Office Secretary until October 2012. There she found a sense of community and spirit that matched her own. She enjoyed both the diversity and the cohesiveness of the community and its values, and she relished the challenges the job presented and the friendships she made.

It was a point of pride with Gretchen that she voted in every election after becoming eligible. She cast her last vote at the presidential election in November – despite being in pain and risking severe medical complications. Four years earlier she worked as a volunteer in Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign.

Gretchen loved bird watching, working in her garden, landscaping and doing her own home remodeling. She frequently requested power tools for presents, and she employed them fearlessly and with gusto. She was happiest when barefoot and working in her garden, but a close second was when her hair was filled with sawdust. Her smile -- and she smiled often -- would light up the room, and no one who ever saw it could forget it. She believed in people, the power of the human spirit and the importance of caring and community.

Her belief in people and community was reaffirmed when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer in October 2012. The upwelling of support and caring from her friends and co-workers overwhelmed her with its light, and she was deeply moved by the many kindnesses extended to her.

A Celebration of Gretchen's Life was held on Saturday, April 6, in the Meetinghouse on the George School campus, Newtown, PA, for her East coast friends and family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Audubon Society, Planned Parenthood, Habitat for Humanity or the charity of the donor's choice.