American Association of University Women

Gretchen Ramlo is a powerhouse of talent and positive energy, wrapped in a engaging manner with a lilting voice. The list of ways she has enriched community life in Austin is amazing. We are so lucky to have had the wisdom, inspiration, and hard work of this woman.

Gretchen is an Austin native and her parents were both small business owners.  Gretchen was encouraged by them to participate fully in life. “Just go do it!”

“Get busy and forget about yourself!” are two things she remembers her parents saying to her and she has definitely lived by this advice.

Gretchen’s volunteer activities have been myriad. She helped organize Summerset Theater and has been active there in various ways over the years. Her ideas and efforts helped start Cedar River Days and Downtown Days, which became the fabulous Fourth of July Celebration we know today.  She was in leadership for Christmas in the City when it started 30 years ago.

The Park and Rec Board Board benefitted from her service for 10 years. She has been continuously active with Spruce Up Austin for 23 years. One of her favorite memories of service in the community was being a mentor to marketing students through the AHS Mentoring Program. She got very involved with these young people and mentored them in all phases of their lives.

At the time of fundraising for The Hormel Historic Home, Gretchen organized luncheons to publicize the drive and to raise money. When The Hormel Institute announced its first expansion, Gretchen co-chaired that effort. She commented that at that point few local people knew cancer research was being done right here in Austin and as soon as they learned about it, they got out their checkbooks.

Paint the Town Pink is another project that Gretchen has been a part of from the start, when the Bruins came up with the idea to Paint the Rink Pink. That has grown into a very significant fundraiser for The Hormel Institute. Gretchen has also helped “a little bit” with Paramount restoration.

When Bonnie Rietz called together folks to brainstorm about an art festival in Austin, Gretchen was there and she and Belita Schindler co-chaired the first Austin ArtWorks Festival, now preparing for its seventh year.   

Out of that project grew the Austin ArtWorks Center, and again, Gretchen is deeply involved. She  serves on that board and does whatever needs to be done, from cleaning to organizing gallery openings, to searching for new artists for retail sales. The Austin ArtWorks Center is very lucky to have her well-honed merchandising skills.

Gretchen also continues her service with The Hormel Institute arranging tours, and coordinating other volunteers.  She helped set up “Holton Day at the Institute” so every sixth grader has a tour,  as well as a program for Institute scientists to spend a day at Ellis Middle School each year. She serves on the Pillars of the Community selection committee reviewing nominations for that honor.

Gretchen graduated from Austin Area Vocational Technical College (a predecessor of Riverland) and spent another year studying fashion merchandising in Minneapolis.  She credits Marge Kirchoff, then president of the Austin Tech, with challenging her to do things she wasn’t sure she could do, like lead a seminar.  After gaining experience in retail sales, management, and buying with Brauns in Minneapolis, and Fantles and Queen Fashions here in Austin, Gretchen and her husband Mark bought Queen fashions and it became “Gretchens”  for 11 years.

When she retired from that she became a “Spambassador” at the old Hormel Museum.

Gretchen says, “People are the best part!” She loves this quote from Maya Angelou,  “Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones that don’t.”

And her watchword is “It’s a good day to have a good day!”

Austin thanks you for your many contributions, Gretchen Ramlo!!!