Michigan Woman Who Inspired Band Greta Van Fleet's Namesake Dies at 95

Ilana KaplanThu, May 21, 2026 at 5:14 PM UTC

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Gretna Van Fleet in January 2019 in Frankenmuth, Mich.
Credit: Kaytie Boomer/Saginaw News via AP -

The Michigan woman who inspired rock band Greta Van Fleet's namesake has died

Gretna Van Fleet died on Monday, May 18 at the age of 95

Greta Van Fleet formed in 2012

Gretna Van Fleet, the woman who inspired rock band Greta Van Fleet's namesake, has died. She was 95.

News of her death was confirmed by an obituary shared by Cederburg Funeral Home. While no cause of death was immediately revealed, she died at a senior living center in Frankenmuth, Mich., the same town where the band was formed in 2012.

Kyle Hauck, Greta Van Fleet's former drummer, once suggested the group take inspiration from Gretna's name after his grandfather, who was a friend of Gretna's, brought it up.

Gretna Van Fleet with the band Greta Van Fleet in Frankenmuth, Mich. in January 2019
Credit: Kaytie Boomer/Saginaw News via AP

“They were at breakfast and his grandpa told him that he needed to go cut wood for Gretna Van Fleet,” bassist-keyboardist Sam Kiszka told Billboard in 2018. “He heard it thought, ‘That's an interesting name.'"

Sam, now 27, continued, "He brought it to the rest of us and I think it was (frontman) Josh [Kiszka] who said, ‘Let's drop the n out of Gretna."

According to Josh, now 30, it sounded better.

Of the band using her name, Gretna told The Saginaw News/MLive in a 2019 interview, "I think they checked out my background to make sure I wasn't on the 10 most wanted list or something, and they went ahead with it,”

She noted that the band "did not approach" her about using her name but she later told them it was "OK."

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In the same interview, Gretna said, “I get a lot of response. I rarely go anyplace, but when someone recognizes the name or the band ... sometimes people react.”

Greta Van Fleet, which consists of brothers Josh, Sam and Jake Kiszka and drummer Danny Wagner, took home a Grammy in 2019 for Best Rock Album for From The Fires.

The band's album Starcatcher was nominated for Best Rock Album in 2024.

Per her obituary, music was a big part of Gretna's life. In her mid-20s she formed a dance band with her brothers called the Allenaires. Throughout her life, she learned to play several instruments, including drums, tuba, cornet, saxophone, standup bass, violin, dulcimer, psaltery, organ and piano. Many, according to her obituary, were "self-taught."

Gretna sang in the Frankenmuth United Methodist Church's choir for over 50 years and filled in as an organist. Gretna later became a member of the bluegrass band Holy Jeans, where she played hammer dulcimer and violin.

In addition to her passion for music, Gretna "loved quilting," as well as "sewing, knitting, crocheting, tatting."

"She was always inspired to try something new," the obituary read.

Gretna is survived by her husband of 76 years Dale Van Fleet, her four daughters and grandchildren. She is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, a foster daughter, one brother, sisters-in-law and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

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