Retzke, Alois Nick

Alois Nick Retzke went peacefully home to the Lord early in the morning on Thursday, November 24, 2011. Alois was born to Amandus and Martha (Firkus) Retzke on March 29, 1917 in Portage County, WI. Al married the love of his life, Cecilia Jean Feltz, on October 14, 1944 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Stevens Point, WI. Al was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He loved to entertain his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with songs, poems and rhymes that he learned as a young child. Al enjoyed life and was quick with a joke or a story for everyone he met. It was said that he never met someone he did not know. He especially loved visiting with family, friends and neighbors, and he was always ready for a game of cards – whether it was sheepshead, pinochle, spite and malice, smear or canasta. He also loved to dance and was always ready for a waltz or a polka. He was a hard working farmer and salesman who brought both excellent service and funny stories to his customers. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. Al had great respect and love for the land, and he was very proud of his farm and his large, bountiful gardens. Al was preceded in death by his parents, his devoted wife, his infant son and daughter, Alois and Cecilia, his sons Timothy and Jeffrey; his brothers John, Victor, Ernest, and Benedict; and his sisters Gertrude, Theresa, Sally, Verona and Florence. His surviving children include: James (Carol) Retzke of Dothan, AL; Daniel (Betty) Retzke of Freeport, Il; Myron (Geri) Retzke of Manawa, WI; Thomas Retzke of Manawa, WI; Joan (Cornelia) Retzke of Chur, Switzerland and Mary (Russ) Johnson of Bear Creek, WI. He is further survived by his grandchildren, Carrie, Jeffrey, Sara, Kristin, Michelle, Amy, Beth, Katie, Brittany, Bradley, Kayla, Kimberly, Casey, Sierra and Cecilia, and by his great-grandchildren: Bailey, Grace, Simon, Libby, Sullivan, Caroline, Lillian, Jefferson, Tessa, Mallie, Cashus, Cayden and Caiden. Al will be greatly missed by his surviving sister, Bernice Stroik, and sisters-in-law, Shirley (Marland) Hildebrandt and Joyce Feltz, as well as, an extended family that is too large to mention, but much too important to omit. The family wishes to thank Dr. Goedderz and his special care giver, Karen Feltz, for their care to Dad in his final days. Al will be missed greatly by all who knew and loved him. Rest in Peace. Funeral Mass for Al will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Manawa with Fr. Paul Vanden Hogan officiating. Entombment will be in the Highland Memorial Park, Appleton. Visitation will be held on Friday at Cline-Hanson-Dahlke Funeral Home from 4-8 p.m., a prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friends may also call at the church on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred. Cline-Hanson-Dahlke Funeral Home, 176 N Bridge St., Manawa, WI