Elaine Rettig, 86, of Waconia
Elaine Rettig, 86, formerly of Brownton/Winthrop, residing at Auburn Home in Waconia, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 8, at Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia. Funeral service was held Monday, Aug. 13, 11 a.m., at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winthrop with interment in the Winthrop Cemetery.
Rev. Paul Tessmer officiated the ceremony and Barbara Naumann was the organist.
Congregational Hymns were "Children Of The Heavenly Father," "How Great Thou Art," "Take My Life And Let It Be," "Softly And Tenderly," and "Abide With Me." Members of Zion Lutheran Ladies Guild were honorary casket-bearers. Elaine’s grandchildren, Michelle Davila, Christopher Rettig, Jamie Lustfield, Beth Goulet, Trisha Rettig, Lindsey Syed, Dusty Rettig, and Anthony "AJ" Rettig were casket-bearers.
Elaine Irene (Messner) Rettig was born Feb. 16, 1932, in Alfsborg Township, Sibley County, Minn. She was the daughter of Joseph and Marguerite (Clemans) Messner. On March 21, 1951, Elaine graduated from the School of Agriculture, which was then a high school associated with the University of Minnesota in St. Paul, Minn.
Mrs. Rettig was united in marriage to Raymond Carl Rettig at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Penn Township, McLeod County, April 29, 1953. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Matthew's Nov. 18, 1962. Elaine was a member of St. Matthew's Ladies Aid and also served as an officer for many years. Mrs. Rettig remained a member of St. Matthew's until March 16, 1992, when they transferred to Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winthrop. This marriage was blessed with four children, Terry, Perry, Ricky, and Lanny. After marrying, Elaine and Ray began farming on the family farm Ray had purchased a few months earlier and they later purchased the former Scharmer farm across the road. They worked side-by-side until they retired in the early-1990s. During harvest season, Elaine worked on the sanitation crew at Green Giant in Glencoe. In September 2011, they moved to Winthrop. Elaine and Ray shared 61 years of marriage together before Ray passed away on Oct. 18, 2014.
Mrs. Rettig's favorite hobbies were sewing and quilting. Each of her children and grandchildren received quilts they will always cherish. She also donated many quilts to charity. Other favorite pastimes were gardening with Ray and fishing with her family. For over 20 years, she looked forward to the fishing vacations near Blackduck, Minn. with her family that eventually included grandchildren, too. Over the years, Elaine canned and froze many, many quarts of garden produce so that it was available for the meals she graciously prepared for family and friends. Mrs. Rettig made sure nobody left her house hungry. After retirement, she enjoyed playing cards and socializing with the Senior Citizens of Winthrop and her other friends.
Elaine is survived by her loving family, sons Terry Rettig (Lynette) of Cologne; Perry Rettig (Betty) of Curtiss, Wis.; Ricky Rettig (Cathy) of Indianapolis, Ind.; Lanny Rettig (Linda) of Chaska; grandchildren, Michelle (Rod) Davila of Mayer; Christopher (Elinor) Rettig of Minnetonka, Jamie (Jason) Lustfield of Coon Rapids; Beth (Dustin) Goulet of Marshfield, Wis.; Trisha Rettig (John Raway) of Manhattan, Kan.; Lindsey (Subhani) Syed of Chandler, Ariz.; Dusty Rettig of Fargo, N.D., Anthony "AJ" Rettig of Houghton, Mich.; great-grandchildren, Makenzie and Braydon Lustfield, McKayla Rettig; step great-grandson, Dominic Davila; brother, Marlyn (Lois) Messner; sister-in-law Edna Rettig; brother-in-law Martin Rettig; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Rettig, parents, Joe and Marguerite Messner; sisters, Delores (Cornelius) Messerli; Rose Alice (Roy) Howk; Avice (Willmer) Lehrke; brothers, Amos Messner, Roland (Melva) Messner, and Leo Messner; sisters-in-law, Ruth (Erwin) Homan, Lucille Rettig; brother-in-law, Otto Rettig.
Arrangements by Dalin-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Winthrop. Online obituaries and guest book available at www.hantge.com
