Leroy H. Kretzschmer

LeRoy H. Kretzschmer, 69, life long Caseville area farmer, died Sunday morning, April 25, at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Saginaw.
He was born May 11, 1934, at the the home of his parents, the late Wesley and Pearl (Geiger) Kretzschmer in McKinley Twp.
LeRoy joined the US Army in 1956, he served as a paratrooper and received a Honorable discharge in 1958. On August 16, 1958, he was united in marriage to Sophie Jean Sorrell in Angier, North Carolina and they made there home in Caseville Twp. Jeannie preceded him in death on July 26, 1991. On July 20, 2002, he was united in marriage to Gloria J. (Kopah) Smith in Caseville.
He farmed with his family all his life never really retiring. He always enjoyed working in the soil and raising animals of all kinds, including incubating pheasant eggs and raising the birds for release. His garden was also important to him, he already had it plowed for spring planting.
LeRoy was a member of Caseville United Methodist Church, Caseville Eagles and the Pheasant Club. Though not a hunter, he loved to shine deer, something he and Gloria did almost every night.
He is survived by his wife, Gloria; his son, Tony (Renita) Kretzschmer of Caseville; his daughters, June Marie Kretzschmer of Ann Arbor and Gela (Randy) May of Oxford; two grandchildren, Wesley and Shana Kretzschmer; four step-sons, Todd (Linda Clark) Smith of Bay City, Troy (Tina) Smith of Owendale, Terry (Starr) Smith of Caseville and Jeff (Jill) Smith of Pigeon. and six step-grandchildren, Steven, Jonathon, Rachel, Scott, Michael and Jared; three brothers, Harold Kretzschmer of Pigeon, Dale (Lorraine) Kretzschmer and Leon (Donna) Kretzschmer both of Caseville; four sisters, Ruth (Fritz) Damm of Bay Port, Joyce (Eldon) Dietzel of Owendale, Carol (Ray) Ruzala of Midland and Janet Kretzschmer of Caseville.
Funeral service will be conducted 11:00 AM Thursday, at the Caseville United Methodist Church. Friends may call at the Champagne Funeral Chapel, Caseville from 7 to 9 PM Tuesday, 2 to 9 PM Wednesday and at the church after 10:00 AM Thursday.
Memorials may be given to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the Make-a-wish Foundation.