May 16, 1936 - May 14, 2009
JoAnn Lou Gratz Obituary
JoAnn Lou Gratz age 72, of Spokane, WA passed away unexpectedly in her home on Thursday, May 14, 2009. She was born May 16, 1936 in Rapid City, SD to Robert and Sylvia (Peterka) Cummings. At the age of four, her family moved to Van Nuys, CA where they lived for ten years. Here, she began her lifetime passion of playing piano. The Cummings family later moved to Forsyth, MT and then to Great Falls, MT where she graduated from High School.
JoAnn majored in music at Dickinson State Teachers College. It was there that she met Alfred (Fritz) Gratz. They were later married on August 11, 1957. She taught grades one through eight for a year in a rural one-room schoolhouse before becoming a mother. JoAnn and Al raised their four boys in Stanley, ND and then in 1967, moved to Grand Forks, ND where she taught piano and played the church organ. She was a member of the Grand Forks Piano Teacher's Guild. Both JoAnn and Fritz were deeply involved with music in the community and at St. Michael's Catholic Church. She touched the lives of countless budding piano players, many of whom continued to stay in contact with her over the years. She also enjoyed golf, playing cards, gardening, vacationing with the "Cruise Gang", and her dogs.
In 1996, JoAnn and Fritz retired to Spokane, WA to their log home on a mountain. JoAnn enjoyed planting trees and flowers. She kept active with baking, sewing, quilting, and recently joined a weekly writing class. JoAnn and Fritz were also very involved with the Spokane Meals on Wheels program. Her dogs were a source of companionship and comfort throughout her life. She especially found joy in spending time with her grandchildren.
JoAnn will be lovingly missed by her four sons: David (Andrea) of Mt. Prospect, IL; Jeff (Pam) of Spokane, WA; Richard (Kim) of Philomath, OR; and Mike (Jackie) of West Fargo, ND;seven grandchildren: Makayla, Brianna, Jeremy, Derrick, Anna, Joel and Allison; one sister: Karen (Tom) Jensen of Port Angeles, WA; and two brothers: Mike (Nancy) Cummings of Boise, ID; and Tom (Sharon) Cummings of Cavalier, ND.
JoAnn deeply missed her husband, Alfred (Fritz) Gratz, who passed away October 28, 2005. Her parents, Robert and Sylvia Cummings, preceded her in death.
Funeral Services will be Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 11:00 am at St. John Vianney church at 503 North Walnut Road, Spokane Valley, WA. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 19, 2009 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm followed by a Rosary Service at 7:00 pm at Heritage Funeral Home, 508 N. Government Way, Spokane, WA. Memorial contributions may be made to Spokane Meals on Wheels.
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