Born: January 11, 1949
Died: 13 November 2017
Gretchen Nairn, 68 of Flagstaff, AZ and Fort Valley VA passed away on 13 November 2017 at her residence in Virginia.
Gretchen was born in Flagstaff, Arizona on January 11, 1949 a daughter of the late Robert Bruce and Leila Emery Nairn.
Gretchen was a 1967 graduate of Arcadia High School in Phoenix, Arizona and earned a bachelor's of nursing degree at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona.
She was a former Emergency Room, Intensive Care Unit and Operating Room Registered Nurse at Northern Arizona Healthcare in Flagstaff, Arizona.
She was a retired Lieutenant Colonel with U.S. Air Force having served as a Nurse at Luke AFB, Arizona during the Persian Gulf War.
She transitioned to be a Flight Nurse based out of March Air Force Base, CA on C-141 Starlifter aircraft for Operation Desert Storm, Operation Restore Hope and Operation Southern Watch.
Later in her career she transitioned to the Air Force Critical Care Air Transportation Team (CCATT) and served two deployments in that capacity during Operations Iraqi Freedom.
During her military career she served in Somalia, Egypt, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait.
Survivors include her two beloved sons, Erik John Ranke of San Antonio, Texas and Robert Bruce Ranke of Girdwood, Alaska.
Beloved grandchildren Alison, Isabelle, Hollis, Ezra and Mira.
Her Uncle John Nairn, Brother Robert Nairn, Sister Anne Spellman, and many nieces and nephews.
There will be celebration of her life at a date to be determined for summer 2018 in Flagstaff Arizona.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to either the Women In Military Service For America Memorial, Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Flagstaff or United Service Organization (USO).
You may sign the guest book Published in The Arizona Republic on Nov. 26, 2017