Carl Ulrich Rettberg

Carl Ulrich Rettberg was born in Clifton, New Jersey on August 3, 1933, to Carl F. Rettberg and Gertrude (nee Seidel). After graduating in 1951 from Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ, he apprenticed as a butcher, quickly becoming a journeyman and working for Grand Union Supermarket. While visiting his uncle Ludwig in Detroit, Michigan in 1954, he met his future wife, Elsie DeSmet. Given the price of telephone calls, a twitterpated Elsie and Carl sent love letters back and forth across the country, each one sealed with a kiss, until they finally sealed their marriage with one on September 11, 1955.

Carl was drafted into the army in 1956 and stationed in Berkeley California for two years, where he became an army cook due to his professional training. Carl and Elsie had their first son, Greg, while Carl was stationed in California in June of 1958. After Carl was discharged in the fall of '58, Elsie and Carl eventually found a home in South Plainfield, NJ and Carl found success as a manager of the meat department in the local Grand Union Supermarket. Carl and Elsie had their daughter Dawn in January 1963 and a year later another son, Jeff, in March of 1964. Proud South Plainfield residents for over 35 years, Carl and Elsie raised their three children to adulthood in the community, as well as two grandchildren who they adored with big hearts and little touches, spending hazy summer days in the pool and long evenings laughing on the patio,

Ordained as a minister in 1960 in the New Apostolic faith, Carl served the Plainfield Congregation as priest and rector with warmth and compassion. His commitment to his offices' responsibilities knew no bounds – Carl spent long hours visiting the congregation's members, holding services, and providing community care. Carl served the New Apostolic Church faithfully and with gusto until his retirement in 1998.

Having juggled home, church and work for many years, Carl wanted to rest and retire away from the bustle and "the cold winters" of the northeast, and in January 1999 whisked a more reluctant Elsie away to Arcadia, Florida. Despite initial reservations, the couple as ever drew in friends and community, engaged in church activities, and they had 23 years which were spent in their created paradise with his sister-in-law Marieann Mathias, and her husband John Mathias. It turns out "retirement" was exaggerated, and after another two additional years as a butcher in Publix, Carl then opened his own business of lawn care and neighborhood handyperson services. On these many rounds of neighborhood yard work, Elsie often joined him, to keep a watchful, loving eye.

Carl was known for his dedication to his faith, mischievous smiles and wry humor, and the tagline "Is everybody happy?" He always carried a small pocketknife with him at all times which he used in all sorts of unique ways; and was quick to pull it out at the slightest need to assist anyone he could with a smile.

As Carl's health began to decline in the later years of his life, the support of his children and their dearest friends Eric and Elaine Schaefer helped the couple independently manage the day to day – until in 2022, Hurricane Ian unfortunately made that an impossibility, taking their home and most of their belongings.

On December 1st of that same year, Carl and Elsie moved into Danbury Senior Living in Tallmadge, Ohio, where they continued sharing everything with one another, until Carl passed away quietly in Elsie's arms after 69 years of marriage.

He is survived by his loving wife, Elsie Rettberg; his three children, Greg Rettberg of Green Valley, Arizona, Dawn Cornell and her husband Patrick of Marlboro, New Jersey and Jeff Rettberg and his wife Nancy of Tallmadge, Ohio. Carl is also survived by his grandchildren, Ryan Cornell and his wife, Emily Harrison of Neptune, New Jersey and Meg Cornell of Urbana, Illinois, as well as many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family and special friends.

A memorial service will be held on the morning of August 3, 2024 at the New Apostolic Church, 356 Eastwood Ave, Tallmadge, Ohio at 10:30 am.

A brief viewing beforehand will be held from 9:00 am - 10:00 am in the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to suggest donations can be made in Carl's name to:

St Jude Children's Hospital Memorials, https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=8450961&fr_id=154020&pg=personal

or the American Diabetes Association https://donations.diabetes.org/site/TR/DIY_TRIB/DIY?px=18154397&pg=personal&fr_id=13953

St. Jude Children's Hospital -Rettberg
P.O. Box 50, Memphis TN 38101-0050
Web: http://https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=8450961&fr_id=154020&pg=personal

American Diabetes Association - Rettberg
Web: https://donations.diabetes.org/site/TR/DIY_TRIB/DIY?px=18154397&pg=personal&fr_id=13953