Gretchan Montag

Memorials may be directed to the Woodbine Public Library or the Woodbine Fire & Rescue Departments.

Gretchan Alvena (Plapp) Montag was born February 8, 1924, the eldest child of August and Anna (Lipps) Plapp in Horrheim, Germany. At the age of five, her family immigrated to Wapakoneta, Ohio. After graduating from Cridersville High School in 1942 and while attending Heidelberg College, in Ohio, she met Maurice J. Montag of West Bend, Iowa, and they married on September 6, 1947 in Lima, Ohio. They moved to Ames, Iowa and while Maurice attended veterinary school at Iowa State University, Gretchan worked as a secretary. The couple moved to Woodbine, Iowa in 1951 when they purchased the local veterinary practice. Gretchan raised her five children while supporting the practice by providing telephone assistance.
Gretchan was a devoted member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She was also active in the Legion Auxillary, Southwest Iowa Arts Council, Woodbine Public Library Board and the Red Hat Society. Gretchan and "Doc" enjoyed traveling extensively, both abroad and within the states, during their retirement years. She especially enjoyed spending time with, and reveling in the accomplishments of her grandchildren. Some of her other passions included reading, cooking/baking, and painting.
Gretchan died Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at the Community Memorial Hospital in Missouri Valley, Iowa after a brief illness at the age of 85 years, four months, and two days.
Gretchan is preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Maurice J. Montag; and her brother Herbert Plapp. She is survived by her five children, Liesa (Dr. Mitchell) Montag-Siegel of Salisbury, North Carolina; Dr Maurice (Johnanne) Montag of Issaquah, Washington; Christopher (Dr. Debra Suda) Montag of Iowa City, Iowa; Dr. Anthony (Dr. Katherine Griem) Montag of Chicago, Illinois; Sean (Jayna) Montag of Clive, Iowa; and foreign exchange student "son", Dr. Hamilton (Christina) Leite of Sao Paulo, Brazil; eight grandchildren; two sisters, Karen (Gordon) Sass of Kenosha, Wisconsin; Anne Garrett of Bucyrus, Ohio; and an abundance of good friends and many other relatives both in Germany and within the U.S.