Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, May 5, at First United Methodist Church in Blair for Gretchen M. Matzen, 62, who died May 2, 1983.

The Rev. Gordon Paterson will conduct the services. Burial will be in the German Cemetery.

Gretchen M. Matzen was born April 26, 1921, in Ida Grove, Iowa, to John E. and Estelle Clark Buesing. She graduated from Council Bluffs High School and completed her nurses’ training at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

She served in the Army Nurses Corps during World War II. After her discharge from the Army, she worked as head of the polio ward in Council Bluffs.

She married Norman Matzen on July 14, 1946, in Logan, Iowa.

She moved in Blair in 1954 after living several years in Glenwood, Iowa. She worked at Blair’s Memorial Community Hospital for many years and has served the hospital as their In-service Director, associated with employee and public education.

As such, she has helped coordinate and start several programs at the hospital. Included are the Diabetic Association, Better Breathes Association, ASPO, Aerobics for Expectant Mothers and New Mothers, I Can Cope, Breast Self-Exam, Assertiveness Training, a Babysitting Program and an ongoing CPR program.

She was vice-president and on the professional education committee for the Washington County Unit of the American Cancer Society. She belonged to the Washington County Nurses Association and was a member of the Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Estelle Carlson and Frieda Buesing.

She is survived by her husband, Norman; two sons, Norman Matzen, Simi Valley, California, and Phillip Matzen, Goshen, California; and two daughters, Patricia Lamfers, Loveland, Colorado, and Susan Matzen, Omaha, Nebraska. Six grandchildren, Mike and Jeff Lamfers, Joyce and Andrew Matzen, and Kevin and Nicole Henderson; and two brothers, Ed Buesing, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and John Buesing, Hot Springs, Arkansas, also survive her.

Pallbearers will be Linn Christensen, Tom Kammerer, Randy Krecklow, Mark Matzen, Steve Matzen and David Muller.

Honorary pallbearers will be Rodney Fuhlrodt, Robert Gerdes, Jerry Jorgensen, DeLloyd Moore, Bill Rasmussen and Terry Thompson.

Katy Flynn will be organist. Clare Cowing will provide the vocal music.

Campbell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for the services.