Donald Bretting

Donald Ray Bretting, beloved husband,father and grandfather, passed away at the age of 86 after a yearlong fight against cancer on November 12, 2011, in Boulder City, Nevada.

Don was born on July 14, 1925 to Louis and Ethel Bretting in Thompson, Nebraska. After graduating from West Liberty High School in West Liberty, Iowa, in 1942, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he trained as a bombardier. Don received an honorable discharge as a flight officer in 1945.

Don attended both Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin. In 1945 he married the love of his life and his wife of 64 years, Lucille ("Lou") Woodard in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The couple moved to Southern California in the early 1950s. Don was an entrepreneur who owned and operated many businesses through the years. He obtained his securities license and began a career with PaineWebber Jackson & Curtis, where he retired after 28 years of exemplary service. In fact, many of Don's clients asked that he remain their financial advisor; even after his retirement as he continued to enthusiastically follow the financial markets.

Perhaps Don is best known as a master mechanic who built and rebuilt many recreational vehicles, which he and Lou used to tour the country, enjoying countless air shows, national parks, auto races, and hunting and fishing spots. A man who truly loved the outdoors, Don was an avid sportsman who could be counted on to know the best fishing holes or at least tried to find them.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, -Robert Bretting of Fairbury, Nebraska and Bill Bretting of Phoenix, Arizona and an infant son. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Lou, two sons, Ronald ("Rocky") Bretting and wife Mary of Rocklin, California, and Roger Bretting and wife Sandra of Houston, Texas. He also leaves behind four beloved grandchildren: Anthony, Austin, Brooke and Dana.