Ann Retseck

          Ann Gettinger Retseck was the oldest of six children born to John Joseph and Martha Sherer Gettinger on October  4, 1957.  She grew up in Sullivan County, Ind.,  in the small town of Merom.  Attending Sullivan country schools, Ann graduated at Sullivan High School with the class of 1975.  In the fall of the same year, she enrolled at Indiana State University in Terre Haute  and graduated in 1979 with a degree in Social Science Education.  She was one of four ISU Outstanding Graduating Seniors. 

          Married to Jeffrey Paul Retseck on March 11, 1979, they bought a house in Merom to start a family.  Seven children were born to this union.  For years Ann was very busy donating her time and expertise in community affairs.  Among the many organizations she was involved with, the Merom Bluff Chautauqua was one of the most important to her.  Ann was the President of the Merom Improvement Association, which sponsors the Chautauqua, for over ten years.

          With years of hard dedicated work and Ann leading the way, the Chautauqua grew from a small festival to a quite large one.  Proceeds from the festival were used to make improvements to the town.

          On June 14, 1994, Ann and her seven children were heading west to California for a vacation.  She had met her husband Jeff as they were leaving and said her goodbyes.  Ann was killed in an automobile accident about 14 miles from home in Hutsonville, Illinois that evening.  Her seven children survived the accident.

          The community was devastated for the loss of our dear friend.  Ann was a community leader and organizer.  She liked the challenges of being in charge of events.  Ann was noted for her energy and pep at the ISFA workshops.  She liked the networking and was always asking everyone for new ideas and information to improve the Chautauqua.  

          This memorial is dedicated to Ann for all the time and effort she has put into her community.  ISFA is proud to recognize Ann Retseck for her outstanding achievements.