Avis D. Tracht, 86, of Valparaiso, died peacefully at The Pines Retirement Village on Saturday, April 27, 2024.  Avis was born on April 10, 1938 in Hayfield, Minnesota, the daughter of Robert and Ilene (Fossum) DeVrieze. She was a graduate of Mankato State University, earning a degree in English and Library Science. Throughout her life her passion was helping others as she served as a social worker in a number of public health departments. In Paris, Illinois, she worked in the city’s Community Mental Health Department and in Battle Creek, Michigan, she worked for the Calhoun County Health Department until she retired in 2000.

Avis was united in marriage to Siegfried Tracht on November 26, 1965 in Robbinsdale, MN. Surviving are her daughters and sons-in-law, Elisabeth Tracht and Eric Johnson of Valparaiso, IN and Lore and Chad Marvin of Steamboat Springs, CO; her three granddaughters, Emily of Chicago, IL, Anne of Stuttgart, Germany, and Sara Johnson of Valparaiso, IN; her brother Don DeVrieze, of Lexington, Kentucky; her nephews Rudolf, Andree, Felix, Hans, Steven and Kyle; and nieces, Ehrengard, Kirsten, Morgan, and Andrea.  Avis was preceded in death by her husband, parents, her niece Susanne, and her brother Jerry.

Avis loved to garden. She was a Master Gardener and one of her greatest joys was spending time tending her herb, flower and vegetable gardens. She could be found on most sunny days in the summer working in her gardens with her husband Siegfried. When not outside, she enjoyed cooking and listening to classical music and NPR. Avis also taught English as a Second Language to Japanese adult women who were living in the Battle Creek area. She loved learning more about their culture and the women formed a strong bond with her. While living in Battle Creek, Avis was a very active member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Battle Creek participating in the handbell choir and Altar Guild. More than anything, Avis cherished being an Oma to her three loving granddaughters.

 A memorial service to celebrate Avis will be held at 2pm on Saturday, May 18, 2024 in the Gloria Christi Chapel of the Chapel of the Resurrection on the campus of Valparaiso University. Her ashes will be laid to rest this summer in the FriedWald cemetery in Muensingen, Germany. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lutheran Deaconess Association (www.thelda.org), the VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana (www.vnanwi.org), or to a charity close to your heart in her honor.