October 30, 2011  

LOWVILLE, N.Y.  —  Lester E. Bretch, 88, a resident of Harding Nursing Home, Waterville, N.Y., and formerly of East Main Street, Turin, died Saturday, Oct. 29, at the nursing home. 

A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at Iseneker Funeral Home, Inc., Lowville, with Rev. Bruce W. Chapman, officiating.  Burial will be in the Turin Cemetery. A calling hour will be 10 to 11 a.m. prior to the funeral service at the funeral home.

Born July 15, 1923, in LaFargeville, a son of the late F. Kenneth and Jennie Emerson Bretch, he attended LaFargeville School. 

Before his marriage, he worked as a hired hand at the Harold Hills farm.  

He married Betty Jane Hills on Feb. 17, 1945 at the bride’s parent’s home in Watertown with Rev. George Harlan McClung, officiating.  

Together with his wife, the couple owned and operated a dairy farm on the East Road in Turin, NY from 1947-1962, moving to East Main Street, Turin.  He worked at South Lewis Central School as a custodian, and also worked for DeLia Construction in Utica.  He worked as a custodian at Constableville Elementary School from the mid 1980s until retiring in 1993.  

Mr. and Mrs. Bretch moved to Waterville in 2005.  

Lester’s hobbies included reading, feeding the birds, and gardening. He enjoyed polka music, parades, and treating the family to dinner out.  

He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather and was happiest when his family was gathered together.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at Harding Nursing Home for their wonderful care and companionship during Lester’s stay there. 

Surviving are four children and their spouses; three daughters and their husbands, Janice and Robert Hettler, Rochester, Teresa “Terry” and Charles Marks, Hilton, Elaine and Randy Mushtare, Waterville; a son and his wife, Donald “Don” and Gabriele Bretch, Vilseck, Germany; nine grandchildren: Jeremy (Cindy), Barry, Jesse, Kimberly (Brandon), Reiner (Ann-Kathrin), Oliver, Jason, Marc, & Taylor.  Five great-grandchildren: Vanessa, Tyler, Zachary, Amy-Lynn, & Rachel; several nieces, nephews and cousins.  

He was predeceased by his wife, Betty Jane Bretch, who died Oct. 2, 2006; three brothers, Fred, Robert, and Roger Bretch; and a sister, Elizabeth Eschenbecker. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Waterville Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps, 7769 State Route 20, Waterville, NY 13480. 

Condolences may be made online at www.isenekerfuneralhome.com. 






Information provided by Iseneker Funeral Home of Lowville and Newzjunky, Watertown, N.Y.