John Albert Kretlow
Marriages
Aloysia (Lois) Duginiski - April 17, 1948
Hazelle Kegebein - July 1982
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 6B - May 21, 2023
On March 29, 2023 John Albert Kretlow exchanged his earthly tent for a house made with God’s own hands (2 Corinthians 5:1). Formerly of Grand Junction, John stepped into eternity at age 95 in Greensboro, NC, in the presence of family.
John was born to Clarence and Eugenia (Haertel) Kretlow on September 25, 1927 in Milwaukee, WI. He enlisted in the Navy two days after his 17th birthday in 1944 and served as a seaman second class as a gunner’s mate on the USS Young, destroyer class. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Wisconsin and graduated from Merrill High School.
Once John graduated, he borrowed his dad’s car and took his sweetheart to Counsel Grounds State Park to propose. He married Aloysia (Lois) Duginiski April 17,1948. His children can’t recall one harsh word spoken between their mom and dad, such was their united front. Warm water and swimming were always part of family fun. That meant a membership at the YMCA in Wausau, and when the family moved to Colorado in 1974, they treasured days of relaxing in the Glenwood Springs Hot Springs pool. They also played plenty of cribbage and Sheepshead as a family.
John and Lois had seven children who all survive John: Robert (Jan), Jessie, Barbara (Tom), Rose Przybylski (Ken), Joseph Kretlow (Nancy), Joan Mogoddamm (Farhad), Lynda Kretlow (Susan Timney). He is survived by grandchildren, Jennifer Young, Steven Kretlow, Phillip Kretlow, Chris Hollander, Tonya Przybylski, Karla Przybylski, Tasha Kretlow, and Cole Kretlow and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Jean Pophal.
John found love a second time at a church singles meeting and married Hazelle Kegebein in Grand Junction, CO in July 1982. John and Hazelle skied together, traveled to see family, and even crossed the Colorado River on a zipline. They regularly served at their church and opened their home for Bible studies and fellowship. John graced his expanded family as an eager grandpa and bestower of wisdom and wit. Hazelle preceded him in death after almost 30 years of marriage. He is survived by two stepdaughters, Kathi Keeney (Bob) and Patti Hill (Dennis) and step grandchildren, Kim Roberts, Ken Keeney, Geoff Hill, and Matt Hill and four step great-grandchildren.
John wore many hats in his working life. He worked for the Wisconsin Railroad Mail and Wisconsin Public Service as a line staker. He finished his working years at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Grand Junction, CO in the accounting department. His work with the VA made John aware of the great need among his fellow veterans. He volunteered to assist veterans with woodworking and other projects in the rehabilitation department, and for many years drove a bus transporting homebound veterans to the hospital to receive services. John loved his country and deeply appreciated those who protected it. One of his proudest moments was taking part in the Honor Flight in 2011 with other veterans.
John was known as a loving husband, dad, and grandpa. His gentle presence blessed all who came near. So treasured was his company, that his youngest daughter, Lynda, always hitched a ride with him to the store for a little one-on-one daddy-daughter time. He was a greeter at his church for nearly 30 years, extending a hand of welcome to thousands over those years. From infancy to the end, John loved a good meal. All conversation halted when a full plate lay before him. When he finished, he’d say, “I’ve reached genteel sufficiency. Anymore would be a needless indulgence.” He only rarely lost a game of cribbage but never gloated, and he patiently coached his children and grandchildren to become good players. He was a genius with wood. He could see a picture of a building and recreate it into a fanciful birdhouse with astounding details.
Before there was Google, there was John. He knew every vintage movie and who starred in them. His downtimes were spent with his crossword puzzles or reading the thickest biographies on the shelf. He loved U.S. History. Every morning, he prayed for his family and studied Scripture. And if you stood next to him when he sang, you heard the strong yet mellow tones of a man who loved a good song. On Sunday drives with his young family, he frequently broke into “Oh, Susanna!” to serenade his daughter Jessie. And there were plenty of energetic renditions of “Snitzelbank” sang around the table.
A Chinese proverb says, “The wise adapt themselves to circumstances, as water molds itself to the pitcher.” John knew how to adapt to life’s twists and turns. He moved to Colorado, lost his dear and beautiful wife Lois, then opened his heart to love again. When Hazelle passed away, he recognized his need to be near his oldest son Bob and daughter-in-law Jan and crossed the nation to make a new life in North Carolina. John willingly entered a nursing home when his health became frail. The staff at the nursing home loved him for his eager smile and easy manner. He was willing to try on happiness wherever he found himself.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Eugenia; his wife Aloysia Kretlow and his wife Hazelle Kretlow; brothers Robert, William, and George; and sister Rosemary Bialeeci.
A military honors service will take place on Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 10 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado.
The family wishes to extend their warmest gratitude to Hospice Authora Care Collective, especially Amy and staff, for their tender and skillful care of John in his last days. The family also asks, in lieu of flowers, that memorial contributions be made in John’s honor to Hospice Authora Care Collective, 12500 Summit Ave., Greensboro, NC, 27405.
