Merton and Carol (Wright) Rettke were blessed with an early Christmas gift on December 20, 1951, when their fourth child, Dale Jerome Rettke, was born! Sadly, Dale died on Thursday, November 7, 2024. He was 72 years old.
At his birth, he joined big brothers Gary and Dennis and big sister, Diane. It would be a few years yet before his little sister, Dawn, would come along! In Dale’s younger years, he loved to snowmobile in the winter. In the summer months he played fast pitch softball for Odin and slow pitch for Ormsby! He also enjoyed some hunting and fishing adventures. Many summers, Dale would travel into Canada with family and friends to catch those big Walleye and Northerns at Circle Lake. Dale loved animals, especially his pet dogs with the surviving doggie being his old big sweetie, Chaser.
Dale’s passion was farming! He cherished the times he farmed with Dad and they both loved their John Deere equipment! Dale also enjoyed having a garden and planting cucumbers. He would can many quarts of dill and mustard pickles, using Mom’s pickle recipes!
In 2009, Dale survived a heroic battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, thanks to a perfect blood stem cell match transplant from his brother Dennis and wonderful care from his Doctor Hogan and the Rochester Mayo Clinic team. Doctor Hogan called Dale the “Miracle Man” and gave him an “A+” for coming back from serious medical situations! Brother Dale went on to enjoy fifteen more years of hunting, fishing, farming and family gatherings. Then, in February of this year, Dale’s cancer returned in the form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He fought again with hope and tenacity like in 2009, with the encouragement of his caregiving siblings.
Dale was a lifelong member of St Paul’s Ev Lutheran Church in St James having been baptized and confirmed there. He occasionally helped as an usher. In 1969 he graduated from Butterfield-Odin high school. Dale is survived by his brother Gary and his wife Susan of Blaine MN, sister Diane Stenson and her husband Jim of St Peter MN, sister Dawn Johnson and her husband Mike of Odin MN, and sister-in-law Patty Rettke of Coon Rapids MN, as well as many nieces and nephews. Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Merton and Carol Rettke and brother Dennis Rettke. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Dale’s service will be Friday, November 15 at 11:00 am at St Paul’s Ev Lutheran Church in St James, MN. Visitation will be at the church before the service starting at 10:00 am. Memorials may be given to St Paul’s Ev Lutheran Church or donor’s choice.
www.kramerfuneralhome.com