1920
Quentin
2006
Quentin Rethke
June 26, 1920 — January 14, 2006
Memorial services for Quentin S. Rethke, age 85, of Milbank, will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 21, 2006, at the Central United Methodist Church in Milbank. The Reverend Dr. John Katter and the Reverend Mark Phillips will officiate. Quentin died on Saturday, January 14, 2006, at his home. Family members are asked to meet in the church parlor/library by 10:00 a.m. Saturday to attend services. The organist will be Julie Ludwig and special music will be provided by the CUM Gospel Quartet. There will be no visitation. Burial will be in the Milbank City Cemetery at a later time.
Quentin was born on June 26, 1920, on the family farm near Milbank, the son of Henry and Emma (Knaus) Rethke. He attended Grant Center #1 country school and graduated from Milbank High School and South Dakota State University. On December 7, 1943, Quentin entered the US Army as a 1st Lieutenant with the 10th Mountain Division. Quentin fought in battles and campaigns in the North Apennines and the Po Valley in Italy for nineteen months. He received the American Theatre Ribbon, the EAME Theatre Ribbon with two Bronze Battle Stars, the Victory Medal, the Occupation Ribbon, and three overseas bars. Upon his honorable discharge on November 13, 1946. Quentin returned to rural Milbank and farmed with his father.
He married his sweetheart, Iva Bohn, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA, on October 26, 1948. They farmed on the home place and raised a family of four children. Quentin was a member of the Central United Methodist Church. He belonged to the Grant County VFW Post #3486, the Birch-Miller American Legion Post #9, and the Two Cylinder Club in Milbank.
Quentin loved people and brought a smile to those who knew him. His passion in life was farming. He couldn't wait to start planting and watch the crops progress. It was a difficult decision for him to leave the farm and move to town in 2005. There was nobody quite like Quentin.
Survivors include his wife, Iva, Milbank; four children: son, John (Lynn) Rethke, King City, CA; daughter, Mary Kay Bishop, Milbank; son, Tom Rethke, Cape Canaveral, FL; and daughter Pat (Rick) Loudenback, Parker, CO; and two grandsons, Alec and Andrew Loudenback, Parker, CO.
His parents, two brothers, and one sister preceded him in death. For obituary and on-line registry, please visit www.emanuelpattersonfuneralhome.com.
Quentin was born on June 26, 1920, on the family farm near Milbank, the son of Henry and Emma (Knaus) Rethke. He attended Grant Center #1 country school and graduated from Milbank High School and South Dakota State University. On December 7, 1943, Quentin entered the US Army as a 1st Lieutenant with the 10th Mountain Division. Quentin fought in battles and campaigns in the North Apennines and the Po Valley in Italy for nineteen months. He received the American Theatre Ribbon, the EAME Theatre Ribbon with two Bronze Battle Stars, the Victory Medal, the Occupation Ribbon, and three overseas bars. Upon his honorable discharge on November 13, 1946. Quentin returned to rural Milbank and farmed with his father.
He married his sweetheart, Iva Bohn, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA, on October 26, 1948. They farmed on the home place and raised a family of four children. Quentin was a member of the Central United Methodist Church. He belonged to the Grant County VFW Post #3486, the Birch-Miller American Legion Post #9, and the Two Cylinder Club in Milbank.
Quentin loved people and brought a smile to those who knew him. His passion in life was farming. He couldn't wait to start planting and watch the crops progress. It was a difficult decision for him to leave the farm and move to town in 2005. There was nobody quite like Quentin.
Survivors include his wife, Iva, Milbank; four children: son, John (Lynn) Rethke, King City, CA; daughter, Mary Kay Bishop, Milbank; son, Tom Rethke, Cape Canaveral, FL; and daughter Pat (Rick) Loudenback, Parker, CO; and two grandsons, Alec and Andrew Loudenback, Parker, CO.
His parents, two brothers, and one sister preceded him in death. For obituary and on-line registry, please visit www.emanuelpattersonfuneralhome.com.