Marion C. Retter, 17 Mar 1915 – 20 Jan 2013

RETTER, JEVONS, THOMPSON, YANECHECK, ERVIN, WILLE, VELEY, BROOKS, HOUSER, ERVIN, KIRLIN, SCHAUFENBUEL, WORTHINGTON

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 1/23/2013 at 16:45:24

Marion C. Retter, 97, long time resident of Van Horne, died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, at Marengo Memorial Hospital in Marengo. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at Salem United Methodist Church in Van Horne with the Rev. Rose Marie Calderon-Khan officiating.

Interment will be held at Salem Cemetery in Van Horne, with military graveside services conducted by Thomas F. Bevins American Legion Post #148 of Van Horne and Iowa Military Funeral Honors. Friends may call at Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday.

A memorial fund has been established for Salem United Methodist Church or the Van Horne Community Center.

Marion was born March 17, 1915, in Blairstown, to Lester and Margaret (Jevons) Retter and graduated from Blairstown High School in 1933. He served as an engineer in the U.S. Army during World War II. Upon his return from the war, he joined the Active Army Reserve Program from which he retired in 1975 as a colonel. He married Racheal Emma Thompson on Oct. 3, 1942 in a military wedding in Pennsylvania.

He worked as postmaster in Van Horne from 1946 until he retired in 1977.

Marion enjoyed traveling, caring for his yard and roses, fishing and visiting with friends and relatives. He was very active in the Salem United Methodist Church and community organizations. He was always right there to be of help where ever needed.

He was a loving care giver to his wife, Racheal, until she passed away in 2002, just six days after their 60th wedding anniversary.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Racheal; two brothers, Levi and William Retter; and his sister, Hazel Yanecheck.

He is survived by his daughters, Judy (Gary) Ervin of Logan and Jane (Jerry) Wille of Story City; his niece, Mary Jo Veley; his niece, Leslie (Michael) Brooks; nephew, Kerry (Cindy) Retter; his dear friend, Maxine Houser; four grandchildren, Eric (Karen) Ervin of Fayetteville, Ark., Brian (Amy) Wille of Williamsburg, Kristin (Scott) Kirlin of Honey Creek and Kari (Jason) Schaufenbuel of Boone; his six great-grandchildren, Cameron and Elizabeth Ervin, Amelia Schaufenbuel, Matthew Wille and Alexandra and Augustus Kirlin; his brothers, Stanley (Garnet) Retter and Frank Retter; and his sister, Mary Jane Worthington.

Condolences may be left at: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com

Published in The Gazette Jan. 23, 2013.
The Williamsburg Journal Tribune, 31 Jan 2013