Gerald P. Rettger, age 70, of North East, died on Sunday July 31, 2011 at Pleasant Ridge Manor East.

He was born on February 19, 1941 in Erie, Pa. to the late Joseph H. and Audrey Klakamp Rettger.

Gerald graduated Academy High School and operated a surveying business in North East for several years. He served in the United States Air Force and was a member of St. Gregory Church where he was an usher. Gerald was also a member of the Gem City Gun Club, served as past president of the North East Chamber of Commerce, and currently resided on the North East Water Authority Board. He enjoyed hunting and gun collecting.

Gerald will be sadly missed by his wife of 42 years Marilyn Sontag Rettger whom he married May 10, 1969; daughters, Sharon Zuccolotto (Andrew) of North East and Gail Meeker (Michael) of Sanger, Texas; a son, Paul Rettger (Cristal) of Monessen, Pa.; a brother, Tom Rettger (Terry) of Union City; sisters, Judith Spaeder (Gerald) of Erie, Diane Rettger of Newton, Mass., Rev. Jane Renwick of Garland, Pa., Mary Kula (Robert) of Waterford, Rev. Barbara English (Richard) of Girard, Janet Kovacs (John) of Erie; grandchildren, Craig, Erica and Kevin Zuccolotto, Alton and Austin Meeker and Koa Rettger; also several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Friends may call at the William D. Elkin Funeral Home, 65 South Lake Street, North East on Tuesday 7-9 and Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. and are invited to attend a prayer service on Thursday at 12:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 p.m. at St. Gregory's Catholic Church. Interment will be at St. Gregory Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania, 1128 State Street #301, Erie, PA 16501-1920 or St. Gregory Catholic Church, 136 West Main Street, North East, PA 16428.