Gretta Marie (Bjerke) Hahn was born in Albert Lea, Minn., on April 22, 1935, together with her twin brother Gerald Melvin Bjerke, as the second and third children of Alma Luella (Overland) Bjerke and Melvin Conrad Bjerke. Gretta graduated from Albert Lea High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry and Math, with a minor in German, from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.  

Gretta was recruited into the emerging computing industry by General Electric (GE) in Cincinnati upon her graduation from Luther in 1955. It was at GE that she met her husband, Donald Hahn. They were married on Oct. 11, 1958, and had three children – Michael, Kristine, and David. Gretta worked for GE in its Aircraft Engines Business Group, but then took time off to be a stay-at-home mom for several years before returning to work, over her career holding roles as a computer programmer and systems analyst at GE, a programmer at the University of Cincinnati, a private tutor, high school substitute teacher, and Vice President at Information Systems Center. She later returned to GE, working from 1979-1995 in roles as a systems analyst, information center manager, consulting analyst, and senior consultant. She ultimately retired from GE in 1995.

Gretta grew up in a Lutheran family and it was a significant decision for the times to marry a Catholic. Don and Gretta raised their family in the Lutheran tradition, attending Trinity Lutheran Church, Faith Lutheran Church, and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cincinnati.

Gretta enjoyed the symphony, picnics, and playing bridge with friends as well as in tournaments.  She was an avid crossword puzzle fan, completing daily newspaper crosswords as well as several New York Times crossword collections. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and quilting, and enjoyed creating small sewing projects to complete with her grandchildren. She was an avid reader and traveler, visiting 31 countries on cruises and other trips with Don, primarily during their retirement years. She was an active volunteer and teacher at church, including teaching adult education, serving as congregation president, participating in the Lutheran World Relief Quilts for Kosovo project, and serving as an officer of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. In 2005 she received a Distinguished Service Award from Luther College for the combination of her professional success and volunteer service.

Gretta and Don spent nearly all of their adult lives in Cincinnati. After their son, Dave, passed away in Sept. 2013, they began preparations for a move to Decorah, Iowa, to be closer to Mike, Kris, and extended family. By that time, Gretta was showing signs of dementia. After moving in late 2014, Don passed away in Feb., 2015, and Gretta moved to assisted living, where she lived happily for several years. In Nov. 2019, she suffered a fall and was moved to a nursing home for rehabilitation and continued living there due to the progression of her dementia. It was hard to witness her decline, given how independent and intellectually engaged she had been throughout her life; even though she was happy and safe in the nursing home, we lost her twice – first mentally, and then physically, to her Alzheimer’s disease. She entered hospice care Dec. 23, and passed away peacefully on Jan. 1, 2022.

Gretta is survived by her sister Marion (Bjerke) Rude ‘52; sister-in-law Lucille (Larson) Bjerke ‘65; daughter-in-law Criss (Miller) Hahn ‘84, of West Des Moines, Iowa; daughter Kris (Hahn) Henderson ’85 (David) of Edina, Minn.; grandson Ryan Henderson, granddaughters Alexis (Brad) Farr, Kylie Hahn, Erin Henderson, and Megan Henderson ’21, great grandson Anderson Hahn, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Alma Bjerke, husband Donald Hahn, brothers Gerald Bjerke ’55 and Keith Bjerke, and sons, Mike Hahn ‘82 and Dave Hahn.

A memorial service was held Feb. 21, 2022, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, Iowa.

The family requests memorials be given to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org), Lutheran Social Services, (lssmn.org), or Luther College (luther.edu).