Thomas Henry Retzke, age 82, of Hanging Rock Road in Spruce Pine, NC, passed away Saturday, April 29, 2023 at the home of his daughter, Paula in Spruce Pine.
Born on December 24, 1940 in Chicago, IL, he was the son of the late John Peter Retzke and Hildegard Wilfinger Retzke. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Alfreda Kaczanowski Retzke who passed away in 2011. Also preceding him in death was his son, William John ‘Billy’ Retzke and his brother, James Retzke.
Tom was a member of the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Roswell, GA. He was a graduate of DePaul University in Chicago, IL. He was retired from Columbian Chemicals in Atlanta, GA as an International Auditor and had been previously employed as Vice-President of Gibson Guitars in Nashville, TN.
Tom loved football, and his long-time favorite professional football team was the Chicago Bears. He coached Little League Baseball in Illinois and his favorite pro baseball team was the Chicago Cubs. He also enjoyed fishing.
Left to cherish his memory is his son; James Michael ‘Jim’ Retzke and wife, Gigie of Edenton, NC his daughters; Paula Marie Keller and husband, Chad of Spruce Pine, NC and Michelle Jean Spaulding and husband, Mark of Matthews, NC; and his grandchildren; Stephanie, Thomas, Grace, Cooper, Kylie, and Matthew.
Tom will be returned to Georgia where a time to receive friends and funeral service will be scheduled and announced. Interment will be in the Green Lawn Cemetery in Roswell, GA.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt ‘Thank You’ to Dr. Stephen Kimmel, the staff of Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge, the staff of Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, NC and the citizens and good people of Spruce Pine that embraced Tom and showed kindness to him.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to; St. Jude Children’s Hospital – www.stjude.org/donate or consider adopting a pet or making a donation to your local animal society.
Words of comfort may be e-mailed to the family by going to the website; www.webbfh.com, selecting Thomas Retzke’s name and then you may sign his guestbook.
Webb Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements for Mr. Retzke and is honored to be serving the Retzke family.
Mr. Retzke’s obituary has also been posted on Facebook for viewing
