TRETTIN, Harold Edward Jacob 1918-2012
TRETTIN, CLAUS, MASTERSON
Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 10/31/2012 at 12:13:03
Rockford, Iowa - Harold E. Trettin, 94, of Rockford, died Sunday, October 28, 2012, at the Rockwell Community Nursing Home.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, November 2, 2012, at Zion Lutheran Church, 805 East Main, Rockford. Officiating will be the Rev. Bob Scheurer. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, at the church. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford, Iowa. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.Fullertonfh.com.
Harold was born March 18, 1918, on the family farm near Grafton, the son of Albert F. and Kathrina (Claus) Trettin and became the fifth of ten children. He was baptized Harold Edward Jacob Trettin April 21, 1918, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton, and was confirmed in 1932 at Zion Lutheran in Rockford. The Trettin family moved to Rockford in 1929. He graduated in 1937 from Rockford High School.
Harold began his farming career raising turkeys while still in high school. He continued raising turkeys and started a hatchery following World War II. A short time later he switched to chickens with the business being known as Trettin Hatchery and Poultry Farm. In 1979, the firm converted to pork production. His never-ending drive was his lifelong demeanor; he saw opportunities where others saw the end of a career. He would push himself with hard work and education, which are traits he passed on to his children.
In the early 1940s he would often travel to Mason City to get feed for his birds. He spotted the bookkeeper at General Mills Farm Service Feeds, asked her out and began dating her. He married his life long partner Frances Masterson on July 16, 1944, at Zion Lutheran Church in Rockford. They celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary.
He was a man of faith and dedication to his church. As a young man he helped dig a basement by hand and using horse and wagons under the old Zion Lutheran Church. Years later he served on the building committee to build the new church on the east end of town.
Harold enjoyed a variety of activities from a mail-order course in taxidermy as a boy to photography, sports, raising hunting dogs and horses, and making wine. He served on the Rockford School Board from 1948 until 1978 during which time the consolidation of the Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock school system and the construction of a new high school building became a reality.
He also served on the Board of Regents at Waldorf College, the American Egg Board and the NIAD Poultry Group. He was a charter member of the Rockford Lions Club, and was named a Melvin Jones Fellow in 1996 for humanitarian services. He helped the Rockford Golf and Country Club become a reality for the community.
With his wife, Harold enjoyed raising his family, traveling, motor home trips to Alaska and other destinations, and a cabin that became their sanctuary on Leech Lake. He enjoyed fishing and hosting family and friends at the cabin. His greatest accomplishment and his first love was his family: children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and their spouses. He was especially proud of all their accomplishments. He treasured his many friends.
Those who shared Harold's life include his wife Frances of 68 years, his four children, Kenneth and his wife Eileen Trettin, Jean and her husband John Pearson, Beatrice "Bea" and her husband Mark Volk, and Louise and her husband Todd Seibert all of Rockford; 14 grandchildren, Heather (Shawn) FitzGerald, Anthony (Jenny) Trettin, Christopher Trettin, Reed (Tracy) Trettin, Aaron (Elizabeth) Pearson, Paul (Amanda) Pearson, Alex Pearson, Michelle Volk, Stephanie (Augie) Nguyen, Brittany Volk, Emily (Terry) Fett, Anna Seibert, Jacob (Paige) Seibert and Michael Seibert; nine great-grandchildren, Claire, Brianne, Harley, William, Wyatt, Alaina, Joshua, Matthew and Emma along with his two surviving siblings, George Trettin and Shirley Fullerton; sisters-in-law Margaret Trettin and Betty Williams; cousin Elfie Pingree; and many nieces and nephews.
His sisters Ella Schutt, Mable Trettin, Marie Weigand; brothers Wesley, Edwin, and Walter Trettin, and Orland Graper; and cousins Clarence and Melvin Graper preceded Harold in death.
Arrangements are at Fullerton Schumburg Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 302 West Main, Rockford, IA 50468, 641-756-3311, www.Fullertonfh.com.
[Globe Gazette online - October 31, 2012]
Floyd Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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