Howard George Bretz

Howard George Bretz, age 86, a lifelong resident of Elberta, AL, was called to be with the Lord on Friday, August 17, 2012, following a courageous battle with cancer. Mr. Bretz proudly served his country during World War II, as an infantryman in the Ninth Division, 47th Infantry Regiment of the U. S. Army.  He received one bronze star and the “Purple Heart” award for injuries received from enemy gunfire sustained in the European theater on April 14, 1945.  He continued to serve his country in a civilian capacity as a military aircraft mechanic at the Naval Aircraft Depot Maintenance Facility aboard N. A. S. Pensacola, FL for 26 years.  Mr. Bretz never abandoned his agricultural roots, and throughout his life, he worked long, hard, rewarding hours maintaining the Bretz family farm.  He was a faithful and obedient servant of the Lord.  He held numerous leadership positions at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church throughout his life and dedicated countless hours to the Lord’s service both at his church and at Camp Dixie Lutheran retreat. Mr. Bretz was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Anna Hirz Bretz and his daughter, Helen Bretz. Left to remember him are his loving wife of 59 years, Dorothy Bretz of Elberta, daughter, Carol Sinibaldi and her husband Robert of Virginia Beach, VA, son, John Bretz of Elberta, five adoring grandchildren, Alicia, Lacey and Johnny Bretz, Lisa and Michelle Sinibaldi, countless other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held from St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Monday, August 20, 2012, at 11:00am. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:00am until the service time. Interment will follow in St. Mark’s Lutheran Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to St. Mark’s Lutheran Building Fund, 13220 Main Street, Elberta, AL 36530, www.stmarkslc.com , CampDixie, 29711 Josephine Drive, Elberta, AL 36530, www.campdixieministries.org , or Covenant Hospice, 1040 Stanton Road, Daphne, AL 36526, www.covenanthospice.org . ARRANGEMENTS BYWOLFE-BAYVIEW FUNERAL HOMES& CREMATORY, INC.25102 STATE STREETELBERTA, AL  36530(251) 986-3071