Flat Rock
Gretchen Burkett Robertson, 64, passed away on May 13, 2017, in Export, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Brian, and sister, Ann, by her side. She was with her family in Pennsylvania to attend the memorial of her father. She is survived by husband, Brian Robertson of Flat Rock, Indiana; sister, Ann Sasaki-Madigan (John) of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; brother, Tom Burkett (Char), nieces, Mary and Calli Ann and nephew, Daniel, of Forest, Virginia; brother, Paul Burkett (Melinda) and nephews, Bradley and Aaron, of Dumfries, Virginia; sister, Miriam Burkett of Indianapolis, Indiana; as well as her Japanese family mourning her death in Japan.
Gretchen was born Aug. 3, 1952, in Augusta, Georgia, where her father was stationed in the U.S. Army. The family moved to Pennsylvania, then to the Indianapolis, Indiana area. She moved to Flat Rock, Indiana when she married her husband, Brian, where she spent the remainder of her life. She attended Northwest High School, graduating in 1970, and attended Indiana University, graduating in 1974 with B.A. in Archeology.
Gretchen’s ability to coordinate large projects and ensuring even the finest of details were not overlooked were key to her success at the Farm Bureau Co-op as a project manager, then at Resort Condominiums International as a program manager, until her retirement in 2015.
Gretchen was a strong, independent woman who had a love of reading, theater, music, artistry, nature and animals…especially her dogs, Nikki and Tai, Gaia, Moses, and Archie, who is wondering where his mama is.
She loved traveling the world and experiencing what other cultures offered, spending time in Hawaii, Japan, Costa Rica, Ireland, England, Wales, France, Africa and New Zealand. She made many friends along the way who will miss her greatly.
All those who were a part of Gretchen’s life know she supported all with love and gratitude. She was the best boss, co-worker, friend and sister anyone could ask for. She had a saying: “Don’t worry… it will all work out in the end.”
In true Gretchen fashion, she did not want a service. A family memorial will be held in June. She volunteered with “Roads to Recovery,” an organization that provides transportation for those with cancer, until she was unable to. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Roads to Recovery, Indiana.
