1924
Henry
2012
Henry 'Hank' A. Rettstadt
March 19, 1924 — May 21, 2012
PRINCETON - Henry “Hank” A. Rettstadt died peacefully at his home in Princeton on Monday, May 21, 2012, surrounded by his family. He was 88 years old. He leaves his wife, Joyce (Swartz) Rettstadt of nearly 56 years and two children, Sherry Cosgrove and her husband Jeff of Northbridge and Karleen Habin and her husband Gene of Holden; two grandchildren, Brandon Habin of Holden and Jessica Habin Seth of Smyna, TN; and joyfully, two great-grandchildren, Aydarri and Elias Seth. He also leaves a brother, George Rettstadt and a sister Joan Thomas both living in Pennsylvania. In addition, he leaves his God son, Wilfred Z. Momo, a young, refugee man from Liberia, who has lived with the Rettstadts for over three years.
Hank was a toolmaker and engineer. He started his career with Piasecki Helicopter Corp. in PA. In the mid fifties, he moved to Kansas City and worked with Westinghouse AGT Division. From there he went to California and worked on the rocket engines that sent up the Apollo Lunar Module. He and his family came back east and settled in Princeton where they have lived for over 46 years. During this time, he worked at Digital Equipment Corporation as long as he could and then retired with a full sized milling machine and accessories installed in his basement. He truly loved his work. He lovingly mentored his grandson, Brandon when he was a student at WPI; and they worked to complete a successful tilt-rotor patent together.
A memorial service and celebration of Hank’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 26, at Concordia Lutheran Church, Worcester, followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. Burial will be private at South Cemetery, Princeton. Please omit flowers. Hank was a long time, active member of this inner-city parish and would request that any memorial donations be sent to: Concordia Lutheran Church, 86 Murray Avenue, Worcester, MA 01610. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden.
To share a memory or offer a condolence visit www.milesfuneralhome.com
Hank was a toolmaker and engineer. He started his career with Piasecki Helicopter Corp. in PA. In the mid fifties, he moved to Kansas City and worked with Westinghouse AGT Division. From there he went to California and worked on the rocket engines that sent up the Apollo Lunar Module. He and his family came back east and settled in Princeton where they have lived for over 46 years. During this time, he worked at Digital Equipment Corporation as long as he could and then retired with a full sized milling machine and accessories installed in his basement. He truly loved his work. He lovingly mentored his grandson, Brandon when he was a student at WPI; and they worked to complete a successful tilt-rotor patent together.
A memorial service and celebration of Hank’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 26, at Concordia Lutheran Church, Worcester, followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. Burial will be private at South Cemetery, Princeton. Please omit flowers. Hank was a long time, active member of this inner-city parish and would request that any memorial donations be sent to: Concordia Lutheran Church, 86 Murray Avenue, Worcester, MA 01610. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden.
To share a memory or offer a condolence visit www.milesfuneralhome.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Henry 'Hank' A. Rettstadt, please visit our flower store.
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