Gretchen A. McQuown, the daughter of J. Greer and Alice Matson McQuilkin was born October 11, 1918 on a farm in Benton County, Iowa near La Porte City. She passed away on Monday, December 29, 2008 at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, Red Oak, Iowa at the age of 90 years, 2 months and 18 days. Gretchen attended country school through the eighth grade, and she then lived with her aunt and uncle in La Porte City, IA, so she could attend high school. Gretchen graduated from La Porte City High School as valedictorian, at the age of fifteen. She continued her education at Central College in Pella, IA, earning her teaching certificate in two years. Being too young to teach, she remained in school two more years earning a B.A. degree in English Literature and a minor in Speech. Her senior year, she was elected Homecoming Queen. Following a teaching career in northern Iowa, including positions at Dike 2 years and Little Rock 2.5 years, Gretchen married J. Stanley Isebrands on February 7, 1942 in Glendale, California. Stan worked in California for Lockheed Martin until he was drafted. Gretchen worked for Lockheed Martin as a line supervisor until her son, Judson was born in October 1943. Gretchen returned to Iowa with Jud when her husband was sent to combat overseas. She lived at home and taught at Geneseo Consolidated School in Buckingham, IA. On November 29, l944, Stan was killed in action while fighting with the 18th Infantry Division in Germany. A renewed friendship with her brother, Graydon's fraternity brother, from Iowa State University led to her second marriage. On July 27, 1947, Gretchen married Earl McQuown Jr. at La Porte City, IA. They moved to the J.E. Taylor farm, west of Red Oak. Here they farmed and raised a family of four children: Judson, Laura, Wesley and Margaret. It was here that Earl Jr. and Gretchen started to build their business by purchasing this land from his sisters and father. As they acquired more land and custom farmed for neighbors and family members, they retained this location as their residence and farm headquarters, until they moved to an acreage east of Red Oak. During the sixty-two years of farming, Gretchen and Earl Jr. have belonged to the Montgomery County Farm Bureau. Gretchen was a 4-H leader for the Garfield-Go-Getters in the late 1960's. Because Gretchen grew up on a family farm, she was well aware of the daily rigors and duties required to be a true partner in a family farm business. All of these extra duties were added to the normal cooking, cleaning and housework, which fell under her charge. Gretchen especially enjoyed the record and monthly bookkeeping aspects of the farm business and continued to manage her farms after the death of Earl McQuown Jr. in l990. Gretchen taught in the Red Oak school system for one semester, the spring 1960, when a long term substitute was needed. Gretchen was an active community member in numerous ways. She had a great interest in politics, and she served as President of Montgomery County Republican Women, and was the first woman to serve as Montgomery County Republican Chairman. Gretchen was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, where she served in many capacities for over fifty years. She was a strong supporter of the Montgomery County Historical Society, a loyal sister of P.E.O. Chapter HB, and still managed to make time for numerous friends and family members. Gretchen was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; brother, Graydon; and daughter-in-law, Rebecca. Gretchen is survived by her four children: Judson Isebrands and wife Sharon O'Leary of New London, WI; Laura Fisher and husband Mike of Louisville, KY; Wesley McQuown of St. Joseph, MO; and Margaret McQuown and husband Steve Turman of Addison, TX; 4 grandchildren: Erin Isebrands-Willison and husband Scott of Bellingham, WA; Hillary Isebrands-Gerdes and husband Ben of Eagle, CO; Rachel Linnemeyer and husband Ben of Kansas City, MO; and Celeste Fisher of Louisville, KY; two great-grandchildren: River Willison and Ingrid Gerdes; 3 step-grandsons: Turman boys all in Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN; and brother, Kirk McQuilkin of Waterloo, IA; other relatives and friends. Funeral Service will be held Friday, January 2, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at the First Congregational Church UCC, Red Oak, IA Burial in Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak Rev. Elizabeth Dilley, Officiating Family Visitation at Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home on Thursday, January 1, 2009 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Family requests memorials in lieu of flowers to the First Congregational Church or Red Oak Library Building Fund. Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.