Terry Elmer Rettle

Terry E. Rettle, age 63, passed from this life on October 26, 2013 at his home in Goose Creek, South Carolina, surrounded by his family. Terry was born in Belleville, Illinois on June 4, 1950 to Elmer and Agnes Rettle. He was the second child, between sisters Shirley and Debbie. He graduated from Althoff High School in 1968, and then went on to Ranken Technical College. After graduating from Ranken in 1970, Terry began an accomplished 38-year career as a Master Audi and Porsche technician. Always a scout, Terry displayed a life-long love of nature and the outdoors with his commitment to guiding youth with integrity and strong ethics through his leadership of Troop 529 chartered at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Belleville, Illinois. In 2000, Terry fulfilled his lifelong dream of living in the Rocky Mountains, when he moved to Littleton, Colorado. He took immense joy in exploring the mountains, rafting, snowmobiling, and at age 50 learned to ski. He had a passion for football and while never giving up his love of the St. Louis Rams, he adopted the Denver Broncos as his home team. When he retired in 2012, and moved to Goose Creek, South Carolina to be near his daughter, Laura. Terry is survived by his wife Lynn M (Gibbs) Rettle; son Kevin (Jessi) of Purcellville, Virginia; daughter Laura and her partner Michael Virnig, of Charleston, South Carolina; step-daughters Lori Graves of Fairview Heights, Illinois and Valerie (Nick) Straedey of St. Louis, Missouri; grandsons Nicholas and Joshua Rettle and Nolan Straedey; sister Shirley (Wayne) Whisenhunt of Schertz, Texas; sister Debbie Rettle of Belleville, Illinois; niece Kimberly(Paul) Jackson and nephew Scott Gaskill; two great nieces Cara and Bailey Jackson; mother-in-law Patricia Gibbs of Shiloh, Illinois; brothers-in-law Dan(Rosalie) Gibbs and Gary(Lisa) Gibbs of Belleville, Illinois and a sister-in-law Dawn(Danny) Greathouse of Fairview Heights, Illinois; along with many other family, cherished friends, and colleagues. Preceding Terry in death was his father Elmer (1972), mother Agnes (2001), and numerous aunts and uncles. A celebration of Terry’s life will be held on Monday, November 25 at Tammerac Woods Apartment Clubhouse 2301 Parkland Blvd. Shiloh, Illinois. Family and Friends may come to pay tribute from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a service commencing at 6:30 p.m. Those wishing to sign his online guestbook may do so at www.thisisaplaceholder.com. The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the Roper St. Francis Hospice team for their assistance in Terry’s final days. Memorials may be made in his name to the Lewis & Clark Council of the Boy Scouts of America 335 West Main Street, Belleville, IL 62220 (http://www.lewisandclarkbsa.org), or Stand Up to Cancer 1801 W. Olympic Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91199-1224 (http://www.standup2cancer.org).