Steven Palmer Kretzer

The family will be at Bratcher Funeral Home, 401 W. Woodard, Denison, Texas from 6-8 P.M. on Wednesday, March 7. Funeral service will be Thursday, March 8 at Parkside Baptist Church, 301 N. Lillis Lane, Denison, Texas at 10 A.M. Dr. Chet Haney, Dr. Tan Flippin Rev. Dave Purkey, Rev. Jason Young, Rev. Delbert Vest, Rev. Sammie Garcia and Tria Heaton will officiate.

Final resting place will be at DFW National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, Texas at 1:30 Tuesday, March 13, 2012.

For the past 10 years, Steve served as the Minister of Missions and Senior Adults at Parkside Baptist Church in Denison, Texas. He led many mission trips to Mexico and numerous destinations in the U.S. He loved the senior adults and spent thousands of hours ministering to them. The Pacesetters were a joy and he loved to meet with them enjoying games, lots of food and travel to many destinations from Denison to Hawaii. He loved going to conferences in Glorieta, Ridgecrest, Branson and other locations. Prior to Parkside, Steve served at First Baptist Church, Crowley, Texas, Towerview Baptist Church, Belleville, Illinois, and Calvary Baptist Church, Rapid City Baptist Church. He also served as a layman and deacon in many churches throughout his life.

Steve joined the U.S. Air Force in 1967. He left the military for a short time and worked for Salem National Bank, Salem , Illinois. Returning to the Air Force, Steve served for a total of 26 years. His duty assignments included: Texas, Hawaii, Florida, South Carolina, Korea, Florida, Hawaii, Texas, Germany, Colorado, Germany and South Dakota. He retired from the Air Force in 1992 and immediately began his full time ministry.

Steve graduated in 1965 from Salem High School, Salem, Illinois. He continued his education at various colleges and universities during his military service. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois. He immediately began seminary work with Midwestern Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri. In 1999, he began studying at Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, Texas. He happy received his Master of Arts in Christian Education in 2001.

Steve was born March 6, 1947 in Salem, Illinois to Gene and Ada (Smith) Kretzer. He married Janice (Dale) Kretzer on December 10, 1967 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

Steve is survived by: his wife, Jan, his mother, Ada Armstrong and husband Don of Centralia, Illinois, brother Charles Kretzer and wife Karen of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, step-sister Debbie Ward of Springfield, Illinois, step-brother Steve Armstrong of Charleston, Illinois, step-sister in law Brenda Armstrong of Edwardsville, Illinois. Children: Stephanie Fetrow, and husband Chris of McKinney, Texas, Steven, wife Stacy of Jefferson City, Missouri, Stacie and husband Jason of Crowley Texas. Also surviving are brother in law Bruce Dale and wife Candy of Abilene, Kansas and sister in law Judy Dale Reynolds of Herrin Illinois. Grandchildren Taylor, Ashley, Caitlin, Courtney Fetrow, Quentin Kretzer and Gavin Kretzer Anabel. Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father Gene Kretzer, step-father Vernon Nance, brother-in law Larry Reynolds and four grandbabies.

Steve and Jan loved to travel and recently completed a road trip of South Texas enjoying their motor home and the slightly warmer weather.

Steve never met a stranger, just a friend he didn’t know. He loved his work. He loved working with other pastors and churches at the Pancake Breakfast, Great Days of Service and the Grayson Baptist Lake Property. He would gladly visit with anyone about anything but would always end up with “where do you go to church?” or “let me tell you something about the Lord.” His faith was an example for everyone. His leadership as husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and friend will have a lasting impact on hundreds of lives.

We will miss him but he is having a great time in heaven with his Lord.

Arrangements are entrusted Bratcher Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.bratcherfuneralhome.com.