Obituary for John Theodore Retz

John Theodore (Jack) Retz passed away at his home in Anita on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at age 78. Jack was born in Marne, Iowa on June 3, 1930 to Anna Christina Nimm and Emil Theodore Retz. Jack and his family lived and farmed in the Wiota area for many years, and Jack was a 1949 graduate of Wiota High School. After graduation, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served in Korea. He was honorably discharged in 1955 and returned to the Wiota area. Jack met his future wife Barbara Ann Brink in 1956, and the two were wed on February 20, 1957 at S.S. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic, Iowa. They settled in Anita and raised a family of four. Jack was a devoted father, grandfather, and husband, as well as an active parishioner at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and had served on the Anita School Board, the board of the Anita Municipal Utilities, and was project supervisor for Marian Housing in Anita. Jack was always interested in building and working with his hands, and in 1955 began a life long career with Betts & Beer Construction Company in Adair, Iowa. He played many roles, including crane operator, and ultimately became construction superintendent for the firm until retiring in 1994. Jack had a hand in many projects throughout Iowa, including the Anita Elementary School, Elk Horn High School, Adair-Casey Elementary School, I-80 weigh station at Waukee, and Clarinda Correctional Facility. After retirement, Jack continued to enjoy many hours supervising construction projects from the road with his brother Bill. In addition to his parents, Jack is preceded in eternal life by his wife Barbara, parents-in-law Marcella and Lester Esbeck, and Kenneth Brink. He is survived by four children, Susan Retz and partner Marcello DeCicco of West Palm Beach, Florida, Patricia Przychodzin and husband Phil of Massena, Elizabeth Parker and husband Dan of Elk Horn, John Michael (Mike) Retz and wife Maureen of Ames; grandchildren, Sean and Allison Retz and Nicholas (Cole) Tucker; step-grandchildren Alex and Aishah Parker, Amy Barth and Veronica McKee, and six great-grandchildren. Sister Marcella Platt of Massena, brothers Bill of Atlantic and Richard of Glenwood, sister-in-law Cherie Hensley of Lamoni, brother-in-law Gary Brink of Parumph, Nevada and many nieces and nephews also survive him. Services will be held at 3:30 on Sunday, May 3 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Anita.