Gretchen Mannix

Aug 24, 2023

Gretchen Regene Mannix (nee Halvorson) passed away peacefully on Aug. 24, 2023, in Rochester, Minn., surrounded by family. She was 75 years old. Born in Forest City, Iowa, Gretchen spent her early life in St. Paul, Minn., where her father taught at Luther Seminary. She attended college in Germany and moved to California, where she attended Sonoma State University. She worked as an economic development facilitator for native tribes in Alaska, Washington state and Minnesota, and as a grant writer later in her life.

Many of Gretchen's happy times were on the water - fishing with her family in Homer, Alaska, or sailing in Prince William Sound - or playing cards with friends and family. She maintained an enduring relationship with the Lutheran Church. Gretchen passed along many valuable life lessons to her children: Explore the world; Music is not optional; Always lead back trump; Never leave the house without a book. Go to church; And always, always, always fight for your kids. She lives on in her family through these tenets.

She has been welcomed to her eternal reward by her parents, Rev. Dr. Arndt and Emily Halvorson; brother, Rev. Rick Halvorson; and sister, Karen Hedland. She is survived by her sisters, Sara (Randy) Johnson and Martha (Dick) Knutson; brother, Rev. Dr. Len (Karen) Halvorson; brother-in-law, John Hedland; sister-in-law, Maryann (Al) Solmonson; former husband, Mike Mannix; and their smart, patient, good-looking children, Deborah (Rev. Tim) Carnahan and Dr. Nathan (Kristin) Mannix. She will also be missed by her four grandchildren, Caitlyn Carnahan, and Noah, Ian and Emily Mannix, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Oct. 28, 2023, at 11 a.m., at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Rochester.

A full obituary is available at https://rochestercremationservicesmn.com/gretchen-mannix/.