Obituary of Gretchen E. Powers

Gretchen E. (Keefer) Powers, 85, of Iowa City, died Wednesday, June 12, 2013, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m., Saturday, June 15th at the Iowa City Church of the Nazarene with burial to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday at the Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Contributions in Gretchen's name can be made to the Iowa City Church of the Nazarene or the American Cancer Society. Gretchen E. Keefer was born May 20, 1928 in Iowa City; daughter of Ira S. and Ethel M. (Neice) Keefer. She graduated from City High School and worked her entire career for Iowa State Bank in Iowa City. She married Lester I. Powers on May 23, 1948, in Iowa City. She was a current member of the Iowa City Church of the Nazarene and a founding member of the Iowa City Free Methodist Church. Gretchen loved gardening and tending to her flowers. She was an avid bowler and created beautiful needlepoint, crochet and knitted items. Her family includes her children, Richard Powers (Susan) of Lone Tree, IA, Janet Metzger of Grapevine, TX and Daniel Powers of Iowa City; grandchildren, Chuck, Scott and Sarah Powers, Bryan and Brett Metzger and Stephanie Robinson; great-grandchildren, Dakota, Jade, Kage, Megan and Mackenzie. Gretchen was a beloved mother who was very giving to her family and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, Steve Powers, a brother and two sisters.