Raymond James Trettel M.D.

Dr. Raymond James Trettel, 90, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 1, 2019. Jim was born in Two Rivers Township, MN, and after completing his undergraduate degree, he enrolled at Loyola University Chicago, the School of Medicine. He was certified in Internal Medicine, and was a Life Member of The American College of Physicians. Dr. Trettel was known to his colleagues, residents, nurses, and patients as a compassionate, caring physician. Following his medical training, Dr. Trettel served in the US Navy for over 35 years, before retiring as a Captain. Jim will be lovingly remembered by his wife Joan. Dear father to Mark, Terry, Peter, Michael, and Steven. Jim moved to Merritt Island, and as an avid seaman, he enjoyed many long cruises to destinations all over the world. Services were held at Divine Mercy Catholic Church Monday, February 11, 2019. Interment was held at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery.

Humble, Generous, Loving Husband, Father and Doctor. It's been a wonderful life.

(The following Eulogy was offered by Dr. Trettel's son, Mark at his Funeral Mass)

We are here to celebrate not a passing, but an exceptional life well lived. My dad’s amazing journey began in Oct 1928 in North Prairie, Minnesota, a small farming town, youngest of 11 children, the only one delivered by a Doctor. Like so many of his generation, he grew up guided by the values of: Hard Work, Integrity, Responsibility, Duty to God, Family and Country.

His Christian values also guided him, compassion, caring, treat people as u would want them to treat you - none of us remember him even uttering an unkind word about or to anybody – impossible to believe, especially when the mean spirited amongst us are so celebrated.

These foundational values resulted in a good man who wanted to make the world a better place and what better role then as a Doctor where the moto is “Do no Harm”. When our day comes, I believe St Peter challenges us to sum our life up – in my dad’s case it was selfless and humble. Dad always put himself last and everyone else first, his patients, his family – he loved being a father, a Doctor, helping people get better.

Our time in Guantanamo was a perfect example, at that time the base was commanded by a very famous and distinguish admiral named John D Bulkeley, who had earned early fame and a Medal of Honor, as the PT boat commander charged to evacuate MacArthur from the Philippines. As the XO of the hospital, my dad’s responsibilities included being Bulkeley’s personal physician, they became friends, as Bulkeley’s tour ended, he asked my dad to come with him to Washington, with a promotion to Admiral, an attainment and title most men relished. My Dad knew it would result in less time practicing medicine, less family time and said no thank you, choosing to put the family first and his love of being a Doctor and we moved to Key West in 1967 – My dad loved boating, every weekend we were out on the water, hitting the many islands surrounding Key West, such as Sting Ray key and the Marquesas, venturing sometimes 20 miles out from Key West, dodging the frequent afternoon Water Spouts, once losing that game to one that swamped the boat in a matter of seconds.

Upon retiring, he reverted back to his farming roots greatly enjoying working in the yard, always planting new things. Having a great love for history, interest in new people and cultures, he and Mom traveled extensively, visiting over 50 countries, crossing the Equator twice, Panama Canal, Cape Horn, Antarctica, the Pyramids in Egypt, Easter Island, and Taj Mahal in India. He had a fondness for Chile where his brother Jerome had been a Missionary for 40 years and is buried.

Dad and Mom, married on Aug 28, 1954, celebrating close to 65 years together, that itself remarkable.

The end came quicker to my dad then we would have wanted, such is life, and even in his final moments, my Dad ever continued to put himself last, thinking of Mom, us his children first, his last words to Mom were, “We had a wonderful life together”. My dad passed with dignity and that quiet strength of discipline and character shaped by the values of a life well lived.

In closing, we will miss him, but he lives on in us, his children, he taught us well, his values, compassion, duty to family, god and country and to that I say “Thank you Dad, job well done”.