Richard Reetzke

Richard John Reetzke, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, went to be with the Lord peacefully on Sunday, February 16, 2020, at Village Manor Christian Care Communities in Bowling Green, KY. He was 95. Mr. Reetzke is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Phyllis Reetzke of Bowling Green, KY; his son, Daniel Reetzke (Denise) of Franklin, KY; his daughter in law, Kelley Reetzke of Kansas City; his grandchildren, Rachel Reetzke (Han Yi) of Fulton, MD, Daniel Reetzke (Kathryn) of Franklin, KY, and Angelica Reetzke of Franklin, KY; and his great-grandchildren, Chloe Reetzke, Elizabeth Reetzke, and Ruthanne Reetzke, all of Franklin, KY. He is preceded in death by his children, Richard D. Reetzke, John Reetzke, and Martha Boyle; his brothers, Walter Reed and James Reetzke; and his parents, Walter and Martha (Ewing) Reetzke. Richard was born on September 30, 1924, in Oak Park, IL to Walter and Martha (Ewing) Reetzke. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Personal Savior at the young age of 9 years old, and from that point on, steadfastly devoted his life to serving his Lord and Savior. Richard graduated from Austin High School in Chicago, IL, in 1942, and soon after moved to Fort Worth, TX, to serve in the Army Air Corps. In 1944, Private First Class Reetzke trained for Flexible Gunnery at the Harlingen Army Air Field in Harlingen, TX. He received an honorable discharge from the Army Air Corps in 1945. Upon returning from the service, Richard met Phyllis (Hackstein) Reetzke at a Youth for Christ meeting in Chicago, IL, on March 2, 1946. He loved to recount the story of how the two were immediately drawn to one another's unwavering commitment to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Throughout a year-long courtship, Richard and Phyllis cultivated a strong bond sharing God's word and singing His praises. The couple married on March 1, 1947. Around this time, Richard pursued higher education and graduated from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL. Richard was an avid and gifted musician who often enjoyed playing the piano and singing hymns to praise the Lord. While at Moody Bible Institute, Richard cherished his time working for Moody Radio, singing Gospel music with a men's quartet and various mixed ensembles. Apart from his work on the radio, he also sang in ensembles for Assemblies in Greater Chicago and throughout the east coast. From the early 1950s to the early 1960s, Richard was led to share God's Word in Knox, IN, as well as in Albany and Savannah, GA. In 1963, he settled his family in Louisville, KY, which included his wife, Phyllis, and four children, Richard David, John, Martha, and Daniel. While in Louisville, Richard continued his long-standing relationship with Youth for Christ. He also became a member of the Louisville Christian Businessmen's International, where he continued to grow life-long friendships with other believers. From 1965 to 1973, Richard had a significant role in compiling and editing Hymns of Truth and Praise, a Christian hymnal that continues to be utilized by thousands of Christians around the world today. He often shared this unforgettable experience with his family and friends. From the 1970s until 2010, Richard served as the founding Director of the Emmaus Correspondence School Louisville for the Correspondence Prison Ministry of Emmaus Worldwide. He dedicated many hours to the prison ministry, diligently sending feedback to prisoners on their completed Emmaus courses, which always included a personal note of encouragement from Richard. Apart from doing the work of God, Richard worked as a journeyman electrician for 30 years and had his own business as a master electrician through his retirement in the early 1990s. For many years, Richard and Phyllis were regular mall walkers at the Mall St. Matthews in Louisville, where he was affectionately called ""the Preacher. "" Until he moved to Bowling Green, KY, Richard was in fellowship with the believers at Louisville Bible Fellowship, where he taught God's word, encouraged his brothers and sisters in Christ, and served as the pianist. Richard exuded an unwavering faith and devotion to carrying out the Lord's work, even during the most challenging circumstances. He was very much loved and treasured by his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends. He will be greatly missed. Visitation for Richard John Reetzke will begin at 11:00 AM on March 7, 2020, with a Memorial Service at 1:00 PM at Cone Funeral Home, 1501 Campbell Lane, Bowling Green, KY.