Lopez Islander, Gretchen Schwahn Gruenke, sought employment as soon as she received her social work degree.

“I had no idea where I’d get a job,” she said.  “Back then, most gals became teachers, nurses, or social workers.”

She was hired to serve a large area with no gasoline allowance and minimal wage.  “My dad was so upset,” she said. “ He said, ‘I sent you to school and that’s what you’re going to get paid?'”

“I looked in the yellow pages for the Twin Cities, Minn., and applied at a juvenile center,” Gruenke said.  “My College of St. Benedict faculty got a charge out of that—finding a job in the telephone book.”

Gruenke described her hometown of Chippewa Falls, Wisc., as all Green Bay Packer fans and 90 percent Catholic.

Despite her Danish and German background, “I’m most proud I’m a quarter Irish,” Gruenke said with her genial laugh. “Dad was in the car business and mother worked for a garment sewing company.”

“I met Gordy at a college hang-out,” Gruenke said about her husband. “Just before I graduated.  I attended a friend’s wedding.  For overnight permission, I needed a written invitation from my friend’s mother and my parents’ okay.  I was  21 years old. Gordy wanted to attend a program at my all-girls’ school when I returned, but the nuns wouldn’t let him.  He had shorts on.”

Gruenke worked while Gordon attended officers’ and flight training before he was assigned to Japan in 1964.

“We traveled 13 days on the U.S.S. Roosevelt,” Gruenke said – blue eyes sparkling.  “For someone from a small town, that was something.  Mother made formals for me and a registered nurse cared for our babies.  It was like a vacation.”

Base housing was not available so the family lived in a settlement nearby.

“I grew up there,” Gruenke said.  “I experienced my first earthquake and my first typhoon by myself. It was scary.  The guys had to evacuate the place and make sure the airplanes were safe.

“I made good friends. When a typhoon was forecast and the guys left, we would get together with food and drink and play bridge. When needed, we used dresser drawers for baby beds.  Our house was so uneven that water with goop could come squishing in the front door and exit the back door,” Gruenke laughed.

“Our time in Japan was extended to five years because Gordy was flying supplies into Vietnam,” Gruenke said.

They returned to Minneapolis, Gordon Gruenke trained with Northwest Airlines and requested a move to Seattle.  Shortly afterwards, the airline went on strike and Gordon joined the Air Force Reserves.

“I went to the employment agency looking for a job” Gruenke said.  “They suggested I talk to the banks.  The president called me in and laughed when I explained about the job I wanted.  She said, ‘I’m sorry, but you’re describing my job and if it were available, we always hire from within.'”

“It was the early 70s, people were getting laid off and collecting unemployment,” Gruenke said. “I decided to see if the unemployment office needed help.  Well, that was a blessing.  They were giving tests that day, said I could take one, and I became a claims adjuster. When the boys were in junior high, I stayed home and took community college classes. That was fun.

“We used to come to Lopez and our favorite place to moor was Hughes Bay,” Gruenke said. “One time we rode our bikes to town and talked with June Forester about available property.  When we saw some that overlooked Hughes Bay—that was it.  Instead of a vacation place, Gordy wanted to move here.  I was not ready for that.”

Five years later, the couple started building in 1990.  “Gordy was stationed in Honolulu.  I knew nothing about construction but we had great people working.  They’d call and I just said, ‘What do you think?’  We got along fine.  I moved in a fifth wheel and told the builders to get the bathroom finished so I could take a bath. We moved in 1991.

”My neighbor, Gale McCallum, introduced me to the Thrift Shop, Garden Club, Yacht Club, and Golf Club.” Gruenke said. “I met interesting people as a volunteer for Hospice and Home Support.  I knew people’s faces so I decided to work at the library where I could learn their names. I’m involved with St. Francis Church and love the ecumenical things we do like sharing churches.  The great thing about my book club is reading books others have chosen.”

“I love volunteering,” Gruenke stated.  “The island wouldn’t function without volunteers.  I hope I never have to leave. “

“I think you need to have a sense of humor and be able to laugh at yourself,” Gruenke concluded, “take every day as it comes, assume responsibility for your actions, trust in God, and be happy.”