Gretchen Kathleen O’Brien Naegeli, 86

On Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021, the Feast Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and in the hour of His Divine Mercy at 3:05 p.m., Gretchen Kathleen O’Brien Naegeli went to be with our Lord.

She was born in Brainerd, Minnesota, Feb. 14, 1935, to Gretchen Kleiner O’Brien and George Francis O’Brien. She graduated from St. Francis High School, Little Falls, Minnesota, and attended Brainerd Community College and Minnesota School of Business.

She met her beloved husband, Robert Bruce Naegeli, while they were both working at Many Glacier. They married June 8, 1957, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd. Together they raised their children in Apple Valley, Minnesota, for 28 years and then retired to their lake home in Brainerd. Eventually they headed to Texas for eight years before returning to St. Paul, Minnesota, for 13 years. Once her husband passed last year, after 63 years of marriage, Gretchen moved to Kalispell.

Gretchen is survived by her daughter Karrin (Don) Sax and grandchildren Jakob, Noah and Hannah of Florence, Montana; son Robert Scott Naegeli and grandchildren Katie, Nick and Ali of Burnsville, Minnesota; and daughter Nancee (Al) Olszewski and grandchildren Sierra, Megan, Al Michael, Daniel, Alaura and Josie of Kalispell. In addition to her three children, 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, she is survived by her brother William (Terry) O’Brien of St. Augustine, Florida, and numerous loving nieces and nephews.

Gretchen was preceded in death by her husband Robert Naegeli, parents George F. and Gretchen O’Brien, and her brothers Joseph, George Jr., James and John.

Funeral Mass will be held Friday, Aug. 20, 11 a.m. at St. John Paul II Catholic Church in Bigfork, with a rosary preceding Mass at 10:30 a.m.

Arrangements are in the care of Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home.