Obituary for Wayne A. Bretzinger
Wayne A. Bretzinger, 76, of Rensselaer, Indiana passed away on April 28, 2023 at Franciscan Health Lafayette East. He was born April 20, 1947 in Rensselaer to Earl and Rosalie (Smith) Bretzinger.
Wayne graduated from Rensselaer High School with the Class of 1965. He served in the Air Force during Vietnam. He worked for United Telephone, Jasper County Beer Distributors, Scheurich Trucking and Cambe Trucking before retiring in 2012. He was a huge Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, and Indiana University basketball fan. He loved to golf and enjoyed hanging out with his many friends at the American Legion, VFW, and Eagles. Wayne loved spending time with his family and he loved being a dad and grandpa. He was especially proud of his family’s accomplishments.
Wayne married Frieda (Janssen) Reff on December 26, 1987 and she survives. He is also survived by two daughters, Amber (Casey) Bodak of Valparaiso, IN and Athena (Andrew) Dickinson of Troy, TX; five grandsons: Ashton (Ashley) Dickinson of Whitestown, IN, Nathaniel Moorhouse and Reece Dickinson, both of Troy, TX, and Xander and Liam Bodak, both of Valparaiso, IN; and four great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two siblings, Janet Nelson and Randy Bretzinger, both of Rockford, IL. He also is survived by an aunt and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Rosalie; mother and father-in-law, William and Lucy Janssen; and a brother, Ed Bretzinger.
Visitation will be Thursday, May 4, 2023 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Steinke Funeral Home of Rensselaer. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 5, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at Steinke Funeral Home of Rensselaer with Rev. Wayne Williams officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Legion Post #29 or Rensselaer VFW Post #1279.
Steinke Funeral Home is honored to be handling the arrangements. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.SteinkeFuneralHome.com.
Wayne graduated from Rensselaer High School with the Class of 1965. He served in the Air Force during Vietnam. He worked for United Telephone, Jasper County Beer Distributors, Scheurich Trucking and Cambe Trucking before retiring in 2012. He was a huge Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, and Indiana University basketball fan. He loved to golf and enjoyed hanging out with his many friends at the American Legion, VFW, and Eagles. Wayne loved spending time with his family and he loved being a dad and grandpa. He was especially proud of his family’s accomplishments.
Wayne married Frieda (Janssen) Reff on December 26, 1987 and she survives. He is also survived by two daughters, Amber (Casey) Bodak of Valparaiso, IN and Athena (Andrew) Dickinson of Troy, TX; five grandsons: Ashton (Ashley) Dickinson of Whitestown, IN, Nathaniel Moorhouse and Reece Dickinson, both of Troy, TX, and Xander and Liam Bodak, both of Valparaiso, IN; and four great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two siblings, Janet Nelson and Randy Bretzinger, both of Rockford, IL. He also is survived by an aunt and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Rosalie; mother and father-in-law, William and Lucy Janssen; and a brother, Ed Bretzinger.
Visitation will be Thursday, May 4, 2023 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Steinke Funeral Home of Rensselaer. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 5, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at Steinke Funeral Home of Rensselaer with Rev. Wayne Williams officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Legion Post #29 or Rensselaer VFW Post #1279.
Steinke Funeral Home is honored to be handling the arrangements. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.SteinkeFuneralHome.com.