Richard Paul Rettig, Jr.

among men.

Always curious and an avid reader, Richard knew at least a little about everything, but was never a know-it-all. It’s likely one of the reasons he was such fun to be around. Living a perfect life is impossible, but Richard lived all 81 and a half years perfectly. How did he do that, you ask? Well, he had three priorities and they never changed; God, family, country.

The Lord came first. His words and lessons guided Richard. He earnestly enjoyed every moment in church, often as a deacon, he loved the congregation, but not more than teaching Sunday School. The gift of drawing others to the Lord came easily to Richard, not through words but by his deeds. Richard was a quick wit and a genuinely happy warrior, truly a man God smiled upon.

The family Richard built. The love of his life is Ana Rettig. Married to her best friend for 54 years, Ana is having a difficult time with all of this, as one could imagine. But the rest of the family Richard helped build, five children,eight grandchildren, five great grandchildren, with a new great granddaughter coming this September, are here to lift Ana up, love her, and keep her safe. The patriarch of the family has left, but has passed the baton to his bride, his Reina, Ana Rettig. The family is in the best of hands.

God bless America. Richard was not a bystander. Like everything else in his life, proof of his patriotism was found not on a bumper sticker, but through his actions. Richard served honorably for seven years in the United States Air Force as a medic at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. He received honors and recognition along the way, honors he never spoke about. Richard revered the sacrifice of others, especially to our great nation.For as long as anyone can remember, Richard made monthly contributions to Wounded Warriors, Mercy Ships, Food for the Poor, and Operation Smile.

Short version of Richard’s life. Born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1943, to Richard Paul Rettig, Sr., and Priscilla Eugene Donahue, he was a loving big brother to Roger Rettig and little sister Robin Rettig Cattanio, who lives with her husband Peter in Rocky Hill, CT.

Richard adored his father, who died too young, and his mother, who lived a spectacular and long life, a brother who died too young, and a sister headored and is missing him terribly today. He stayed close to his aunts, uncles,nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In the 1960s, the handsome man from Connecticut moved his young family to Florida. Eventually settling in Tampa, Richard served as general manager for an auto group for 25 years. His kids and grandkids beckoned Ana and him to Tallahassee more than 20 years ago, a town he loved the most. He retired from the Division of Forestry at the Department of Agriculture in 2010, loving every minute of the work there, along with all of his workmates.

Richard’s happy places. Strolling through a beautiful garden (even better if Ana is with him). Having a catch with his grandson in the backyard(Richard was a talented athlete throughout his life). Being with any of his friends, especially Vic O’Donnell, Willie Meggs, and Jacque Lehman and the following family members (in no particular order, he loved each with all his heart): Son, Paul Mitchell, and his wife, Kimberley; daughter, Maria Rettig Maloof, and her husband, Al; daughter, Kimberly Mitchell, and her longtime beau, Sean Morrisey; daughter, Priscilla Rettig; daughter, Mary Beth Johnson and her husband, Todd; grandson, Chase Mitchell, and his wife, Kelly;granddaughter, Blakely Giordano, and her husband, Mike; granddaughter,Lily Johnson; grandsons, Richard Maloof, Bennett Mitchell, Clarke Johnson,

Spencer Mitchell, and George Maloof; great grandchildren, Finn, Holly Kate,Hazel, Fletcher, Declan, and a new baby girl (name TBD in September).

What Richard taught us. Build a relationship with the Lord. Love your neighbor as yourself. Laugh a lot. Eat delicious food. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Learn from mistakes. Say you’re sorry when you need to. You’re never too old to learn new tricks. Love unconditionally. Repeat.

All whose lives Richard Rettig touched will miss him forever, but he is in Heaven and knows more joy than we can imagine. Whether you called him Honey, Richard, Dick, Daddy, Dad, or Grandpa, he will be there to greet each of us and show us the most glorious gardens he’s found, most likely with a really really cold glass of Coke in his hand.

Richard Rettig passed away after valiantly battling vascular and kidney disease on Friday, July 19, 2024.

A funeral service to celebrate Richard’s life will be held on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at 12pm at Chapel Hill Baptist Church. It will be broadcast live for those who cannot attend in person. At 2pm, a military send-off with color guard burial will be held at The National Cemetery located at 5015 Apalachee Pkwy in Tallahassee. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Wounded Warriors Project.