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Gretchen Gleim Schwoebel passed away at her home in Bryn Mawr, PA on March 23, 2026, after a very long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was 91 years old. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii on September 18, 1934, she was the daughter of RADM Fritz Gleim of the U.S. Navy and Virginia Winston (Jackson) Gleim. She joined her older sister, Betty, to complete a family of 4. Gretchen graduated from Montgomery Blair High School, in Maryland and went on to complete her bachelor’s degree at Penn State University. She joined the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and made some lifelong friends. While at college she met Richard (Dick) Schwoebel Jr. Dick was in the naval reserves at Penn State. Immediately after Gretchen graduated in 1956, Gretchen and Dick got married and moved to Detroit where Dick was stationed. They proceeded to welcome 4 children: Kurt (1957), Karen (1960), Nancy (1962), and Jennifer (1969). Gretchen and Dick made their family home in Broomall, PA and raised their children. Gretchen worked many jobs to contribute to the family income while running the household. The family were members of Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, PA where Gretchen developed a strong social network, as well as a love of tennis and paddle-tennis. After all 4 children moved out of the family home, Gretchen and Dick built their dream home in Glenmoore in Chester County, PA. They enjoyed 14 years of retired life together there, surrounded by nature. Dick passed away in 2009 after 52 years of marriage. Gretchen lived in Glenmoore for 9 more years until she moved to Bryn Mawr in 2018. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2017. She was lovingly cared for by her children and numerous caregivers. Gretchen had a lifelong passion for volunteering throughout her life, from everything to manning a crisis hotline during the overnight hours, to cooking weekly meals for homeless shelters, to the Devon Horse Show. The Devon Horse Show was a passion of Gretchen’s, since all proceeds go to the Bryn Mawr Hospital. She volunteered wherever she was needed on the show grounds for well over thirty years. She was a founder of the Devon Horse Show Art Gallery, and she personally brought in Jamie Wyeth to donate his works to the art gallery to bring in more money for the hospital. Gretchen also loved playing tennis, paddle-tennis, gardening, animals, reading, and traveling (especially to any beach). She was great at entertaining and throwing parties. She is survived by her loving children Kurt, Karen (Alan), Nancy, Jennifer (Daniel) and her adoring grandchildren Molly, Emma and Sam. She may be gone from our sight, but never our hearts. Remembering Gretchen, affectionately nicknamed ‘Oma’, later in life, which is a German word for ‘grandma’, to be a true ‘kitty lover’ her whole life. There were various cats and kitties (always more than one) that actually ‘ran’ the ‘114 household.’ Speaking of nicknames, Gretchen was also known by several nicknames. All the kitties were given multiple nicknames, which continually changed. Ironically, it has been shown that all her children are ‘kitty lovers’ as well.

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Gretchen Gleim Schwoebel

September 18, 1934 - March 23, 2026