Gretchen M. Horan, 59, of Belvidere, IL passed away on January
16, 2020 in Rockford, IL. She was born on April 7, 1960 in Minneapolis, MN to Richard
James and Mary (Simons) Buhr. Gretchen married her wonderful husband, Steve
Horan, on April 25, 1998 in their backyard in Belvidere, IL. Gretchen received her
bachelor's degree in Special Education and taught for over 29 years. Gretchen
also ran the Kids First Daycare and Preschool in Belvidere, IL.

Gretchen found her spiritual home at St. James Catholic
Church. She was also a member of the American Legion. She was a black belt in
Tae Kwon Do. Gretchen loved painting, riding horses, reading, listening to music,
but especially The Beatles, and the mountains.

Gretchen would always put others needs before her own and
never asked for anything in return. She had a heart of gold and was loved by so
many. Family was the most important thing to Gretchen, and she cherished each
and every one of them.

Gretchen will be dearly missed by her husband, Steve; her mother, Mary; her children, Jeremy (Stephanie Summers) Malikowski, Melissa (Randall Hagan) Malikowski, Danielle (Michael) Kay, AJ Horan, Aimee (Ryan Turner) Horan, Nicholas (Brittany Mossong) Horan and her fur babies, Angus and Rigby; her sister, Aimee (Don) Potter; her grandchildren, Dionne Malikowski, Trey Scott, Mary Labatte, Jordan Malikowski, Alden Horan, Cooper Kay, Carson Kay, Camden Kay, Greenley Kay; 1 great-granddaughter; and her niece and nephew, Amanda and John Potter.

She was preceded in death by her father, Richard Buhr; her
son, Arthur Malikowski; and her brother, John Buhr. To light a candle or write
a condolence, please visit www.AndersonFCS.com.