Gretchen Slater

Dec 29, 1948 -

Oct 3, 2025

Gretchen Lynn Slater, maiden name Weinmeister, was born on Dec. 29, 1948, and passed away in Anchorage, Alaska, on Oct. 3, 2025.

Gretchen was the first born of four children - Hans, Eric and Kirsten - to parents Arnold, an NFL Hall of Famer, and Shirley Weinmeister. Shirley's life was short lived, as she died in a car accident in San Francisco, Calif., in March 1957, when Gretchen was only 8 years old. After her mother's tragic death, the family then moved from Castro Valley, Calif., to Mercer Island, Wash., where Gretchen graduated from high school and attended college at Central Washington University. Gretchen's brothers Hans and Eric predeceased Gretchen, and Gretchen's sister Kirsten is the last remaining sibling. She is survived by nieces and nephews, Shelly, Jeremy, Lisa and Lauren; and cousins Annie, John, Billy, Rosemary, Robert, Peter and Marian.

Gretchen moved to Alaska in 1976 to work on the trans-Alaska pipeline in Prudhoe Bay as a Teamster with Local 959 for several years until she retired. She met her husband Robin Slater, whom worked up on the northern slope near Wales and Tin City, Alaska. Rob passed away on Oct. 23, 2002. During their marriage, Gretchen and Rob made art and jewelry projects together. Rob and Gretchen made beautiful glass beads, and one of Gretchen's works of art was accepted by the Smithsonian. Gretchen made incredible jewelry beadwork.

Gretchen's brother Hans also moved to Anchorage, a year or two before Gretchen, where he worked as a hunting guide and was the star of the show, "Wild West Alaska." Gretchen and Hans, "Hansel and Gretel" as they were dubbed at birth, lived near each other and were close until Hans' passing in 2018.

Gretchen's caregiver, Mary Troup took excellent care of Gretchen and was a great friend for the remaining years after Gretchen's health issues in 2004.

There will be a memorial service for Gretchen to be held at Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel, 737 E Street in Anchorage, on Nov. 10, 2025, at 2 p.m. AKST (3 p.m. PST; 4 p.m. MST) for friends to gather and share their stories.

There will be a Zoom meeting for friends and family to join remotely – Meeting ID: 312 677 5852 – Passcode: funeral

Donations can be made to your favorite charity in Gretchen's honor.