Urban A. Gretter & Rita I. Gretter  

Urban Gretter March 11, 1909 – March 7, 2006 Urban Gretter, 96, Kokomo, died 5:25 a.m. Tuesday March 7, 2006, at Waterford Place Health Campus in Kokomo. He was born March 11, 1909, in Napa, Idaho, a son of Aloyoius and Celeste (Keller) Gretter.

On Sept. 3, 1939, he married Rita Hoge in Plymouth at St. Michaels Catholic Church.

Urban was the owner of the Gretters grocery store in Culver for 22 years. He retired in 1977 and bought a house in North Fort Myers, Fla., where he and his wife lived for 25 years.

Urban was an avid golfer and also enjoyed fishing. He liked to work around his home and enjoyed playing cards, especially Euchre and Royal Rummy.

Surviving relatives include his wife of 66 years, Rita (Hoge) Gretter of Greentown; two sons, Gary and wife Sandy (Silk) Gretter of Greencastle, Phillip and wife Barbara (Holm) Gretter of Plymouth; one daughter, Carmen and husband Robert Dickson of Kokomo; one brother, Cletus and wife Jenny Gretter of Greencastle; two sisters, Loretta Hope and Teresa Navarro, both of Long Beach, Calif.; one sister-in-law, Neta Hogebrugh; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Paul, Clem, Bob, and Mark Gretter; and two sisters, Ethel Roth and Margurite Baxter.

Services will be 10 a.m. Friday at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 3155 S. 200 W. Burial will take place at a later date in the Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Cemetery of Florida. Memorial contributions would be appreciated to St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home, Kokomo, is assisting the family with arrangements. - Kokomo Tribune - 8 March 2006



KOKOMO - Urban 'Druke' Gretter, 96, of Kokomo, died at 5:25 a.m. on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at the Waterford Place Health Campus in Kokomo. He was born on March 11, 1909 in Napa, Idaho the son of Aloyoius and Celeste (Keller) Gretter. On Sept. 3, 1939 he married Rita Hoge in Plymouth at the St. Michaels Catholic Church.

Urban was the owner of the Gretters Grocery store in Culver for 22 years. He retired in 1977 and bought a house in North Fort Myers, Fla. were he and his wife lived for 25 years. Urban was an avid golfer and also enjoyed fishing. He liked to work around his home and enjoyed playing cards especially euchre and rummy.

Surviving relatives include his wife of 66 years, Rita (Hoge) Gretter, of Kokomo; two sons, Gary and wife Sandy (Silk) Gretter of Greencastle; Phillip and wife Barbara (Holm) Gretter of Plymouth; one daughter, Carmen and husband Robert Dickson of Kokomo; one brother, Cletus and wife Jenny Gretter of Lake Havasu, Ariz.; two sisters, Loretta Hope and Teresa Navarro both of Long Beach, Calif.; one sister-in-law, Neta (Hoge) Brugh, eight grandchildren and five great- grandchildren. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers named Paul, Clem, Bob, and Mark Gretter; and two sisters named Ethel Roth and Margurite Baxter.

Services will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 10, 2006 at the St. Joan of Arch Catholic Church 3155 S. 200 W. Kokomo.

Burial will be at a later date in the Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Fort Myers, Fla.

Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home, 2097 West Alto Road, Kokomo is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Memorial contributions would be appreciated to the St. Joan of Arch Catholic Church.

Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home 2097 West Alto Road, Kokomo; 765-453-2310
Plymouth Pilot
Culver Citizen

Rita I. Gretter June 1, 1915 - Feb. 11, 2007 Rita I. Gretter, 91, passed away at 8:35 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007, in the Waterford Place Healthcare Campus in Kokomo. She was a former longtime resident of North Fort Myers, Fla., and a most recent resident of Greentree at Kokomo. She was born June 1, 1915, in Morris, Ill., to Fred J. Hoge and Helen Edna (Livsey) Hoge, both deceased.

On Sept. 3, 1939, she married Urban A. Gretter in Plymouth, and Mr. Gretter passed away on March 7, 2006.

Mrs. Gretter and her husband owned and operated the Gretter Grocery Store and Meat Market in Culver for over 23 years before retiring.

She also is a member of the Delta Theta Tau Sorority in Plymouth and the VFW Women's Auxiliary in Culver. Her favorite pastimes were golf, bowling, and playing bridge and euchre, and she was also an avid sports fan. Mrs. Gretter is a member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Kokomo.

She is survived by two sons, Mr. Gary U. Gretter and wife Sandra, Greencastle, and Mr. Philip H. Gretter and wife Barbara, Plymouth; one daughter, Mrs. Carmen M. Dickson and husband Robert, Kokomo; eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Neta F. Brugh, North Fort Myers, Fla.; as well as several nieces and nephews.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, husband and one brother.

The funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 3155 S. 200 W., Kokomo, with Father Andrew Dudzinski officiating.

Internment will be held at a later date in the Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Fort Myers, Fla.

Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home, 2097 W. Alto Road, Kokomo, with a rosary service held at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church.

Kokomo Tribune 13 Feb. 2007
Culver Citizen 22 Feb. 2007



They lived at 322 E. Lakeshore Dr. Culver on the northwest corner of Lakview and Lakeshore. When they lived there the house was brown and the sideing was wood shake shingled and the porch was open.

---

Philip H. Gretter Sr., a man of great faith, was taken homeward to be in Heaven with his Lord and Savior on Saturday afternoon after experiencing a sudden heart attack while visiting the office of Dr. Byron Holm at the LifePlex accompanied by his beloved wife, Barb.

Phil was born on October 12, 1943 in Plymouth to Urban A. and Rita I. (Hoge) Gretter. In 1962, he graduated from Culver High School.

On September 23, 1978, Phil married the love of his life, Barbara A. Holm, and they spent each day of the next 37 years at one another’s side.

Phil served as a lineman and serviceman for NIPSCO and retired after 35 years. Always full of energy and eager to serve others, he went back to work as a real estate agent at Masterson and Associates. Additionally, he began volunteering at LaVille Elementary School reading to K-3 students. Reading to the children for the past 16 years, this became an important ministry for him, and he always felt honored, privileged, and blessed to be able to share his joy and love with the children. Known as “The Mint Man,” Phil could usually be found handing out his signature green Starlight mints with his trademark smile, sparkling laughter, and an enthusiastic, “Mint Break!”

Phil is survived by his devoted wife, Barbara, three children, three grandchildren, and two siblings. His eldest son, David, lives in Fishers, IN, with his wife Whitney, and their three children, Dane, McKenzie, and Reese. His eldest daughter, Jill A. Gretter, lives in Florence, KY. His youngest son, Philip Gretter Jr. (PJ), will marry his fiancé, Charlotte Ridenour, in April with intentions to reside in Indianapolis, Indiana. His brother Gary Gretter resides with his wife Sandy in Greencastle, IN. His sister, Carmen Dickson, resides in Kokomo, IN. His brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dr. Byron and Mary Holm of Plymouth, also survive along with many nieces and nephews.

Phil was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Robert Dickson.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 9th from 4 - 8 p.m. EDT in the sanctuary of Plymouth Wesleyan Church, 11203 S. Michigan St.

Services will be held at the church on Wednesday, February 10th at 11 a.m. EDT. led by friend and former Pastor Lyle Breeding along with Pastor Ollie Dongell. Visitation will continue in the church after 10 a.m. until time of services.

A luncheon and time of continued sharing will immediately follow services in the church fellowship hall.

Memorial gifts may be given to LaVille Elementary School or Plymouth Wesleyan Church. - www. johnson-danielson. com