Howard Rettenmeier

DYERSVILLE, IOWA

Howard Rettenmeier, 93, of Dyersville, Iowa passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Stonehill Care Center in Dubuque.

Visitation will be held from 4 - 7 p.m. on Monday, June 23, 2025, at Kramer-Morris Funeral Home in Dyersville, Iowa where the American Legion Post #137 will hold a service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue Tuesday morning from 9 - 10 a.m. at Kramer-Morris Funeral Home prior to funeral services.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, Iowa, with burial following in the church cemetery where military honors will be accorded.

Howard was born Feb. 5,1932 in Balltown, IA, the son of Fred and Alvina (Meyer) Rettenmeier. He married Shirley Ries on Feb. 15, 1955, at the Holy Cross Catholic Church. Together they celebrated 66 years of marriage.

He met the love of his life at the Melody Mill Ballroom in Oct. 1950. He helped his dad on the family farm and worked at Flexsteel Furniture factory before being drafted into the Army in Dec. 1952. He took his basic training at Ft. Bliss, TX, with the 531st AAA Battalion. He went on to Radio Operations and Radio Repair School at Ft. Sill, OK. After graduation he rejoined his outfit at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, SD. He made Communication Sgt. of Battery C and was discharged in Dec. 1954. He went on to barber school in Cedar Rapids, IA, and graduated in Oct. 1955. He and Shirley moved to Dyersville where he started cutting hair with Eddie Maiers. He worked with Eddie for 17 years before he bought him out. He and Shirley opened Howard & Shirley's Barber & Beauty Salon for 28 years until Shirley retired. Howard continued to cut hair until he completed 63 years on Oct. 18, 2018.

He was active in the community. A lifetime member of the American Legion Post 137, the Knights of Columbus and Dyersville Sportsman Club. He also served on the Xavier Lay Board and Dyersville Country Club where he was a longtime member. He was an avid golfer and was especially proud of his 2 hole-in-ones. He was also an avid Chicago Cubs, Green Bay Packers and Iowa Hawkeyes fan.

Howard is survived by his children: Dean of Cedar Rapids, IA, Dale (Debi) of Hiawatha, IA, Donald (Pattie) of Sussex, WI, and David (Tara) of Quincy, IL; sisters: Mert (James) Habel, Elaine (Lyle) Link; and sister-in-law, Marlene Rettenmeier; grandchildren: Jason Geltz, Pamela Geltz, Brett Rettenmeier, Ben Rettenmeier, Stephanie Coberly, Brittany Rettenmeier, Austin Rettenmeier, Alec Rettenmeier, Reese Rettenmeier and Riley Rettenmeier; and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley; daughter, Beverly (Darrel) Geltz, granddaughters: Staci and Amy (Dale) Rettenmeier; sister, Jeanette Slattery; brother, Earl Rettenmeier; in-laws: Gus Slattery, James Habel, Lyle Link, James and Kay Ries and Thomas Habel.

Memorials in his memory can be made to Beckman Catholic High School and St. Francis Xavier Parish.

Kramer-Morris Funeral Home in Dyersville is assisting the family. Please share a memory of Howard at https://www.kramer-morrisfuneralhome.com.