John Bauer Bretey

John Bauer Bretey passed away on March 22, 2021 at the age of 73 from complications of cancer. He was born on February 9, 1948 to Leslie John Bretey and Bernice Katherine (Bauer) Bretey at Odebolt, Iowa. The family moved from Odebolt to a farm north of Arion where he attended Paradise #6 through 2nd grade. The school closed in 1958 and he then rode the school bus to Denison where he completed 3rd-8th grade at Denison Middle School and graduated from Denison High School in 1966. He joined the U. S. Army and left October 30, 1966 for basic training at El Paso, Texas. He was stationed at Fort Eustis in Virginia and Fort Carson in Colorado and was deployed overseas to Vietnam for one year. He was honorably discharged on June 26, 1969. John was a Purple Heart recipient.

On April 24, 1982 he was married to Marcia Lou Rose and had two sons, Jason and Jared, who became the focus of their lives. John was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Denison and later St. Paul Lutheran Church in McAllen, Texas. He enjoyed attending his sons' activities, church activities, hunting, fishing, camping, playing cards, playing pool, family campouts and events. He loved doing carpentry work, remodeled several homes and was always working at something to keep busy. His latest project was building a bicycle for two from a purchased hardware kit and pvc pipe. John added his own accessories of a wooden bed and front bumper as well as lights. He was cruising in style but was unable to use it very much after becoming ill.

John retired from the Municipal Utilities of Denison, Iowa in 2010 and moved to Carroll, Iowa. He and Marcia bought a home in Spirit Lake, Iowa spending much time there in the summer months and also became "Winter Texans" during the winter months after purchasing a home in Paradise Resort Estates in Pharr, Texas. Marcia passed away October 29, 2015 due to a rare blood disease which attacked the kidneys after receiving a kidney transplant from her nephew, Steve Moore.

On February 10, 2018 John was united into marriage with Janet Willson Mokosak in Pharr, Texas. John and Janet enjoyed traveling, singing karaoke, card playing, pool, bean bag and being with friends. He was active in Paradise Resort Estates singing in the country jams as well as the rock and roll jams, being chairman of the billiards room, leading the karaoke and always volunteering where needed.

Prior to being diagnosed with cancer John wrote a beautiful song in testimony of his life and faith in his loving God which he wanted shared at his funeral.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marcia; brothers, Dale in 1988 and Gene in 2015. He is survived by his wife, Janet; two sons, Jason (Celina) Bretey of San Ramon, California, Jared (Rayanna) Bretey of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; two step-sons, Michael (Kim) Zierath of Flower Mound, Texas and Jon Zierath of Aplington, Iowa; grandchildren, Christian, Nathaniel, Gabriel, Cecelia and Annabella Bretey; step-grandchildren, Brett, Blake and Madison Zierath; three brothers, Gerald (Karen) Bretey of Urbandale, Iowa, Leroy (Patty) Bretey of Omaha, Nebraska, Bill (Mary) Bretey of Fairmont, Minnesota; sister, Lois (Paul) Shook of Denison, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Tudy Bretey of Denison, Iowa and Judith Bretey of Carroll, Iowa; brothers-in-law, Richard (Janet) Rose of Westside, Iowa and Gale Moore of Gretna, Nebraska; many nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.


The family has requested that masks be worn and social distancing be observed at the visitation and funeral service.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Live streaming will be available at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 26, 2021 at the "Huebner Funeral Home" Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/huebnerfuneralhome/