Beverly Rettig

Beverly Marie Rettig, 83, died on Tuesday, February 4, 2014, in Arvada, Colorado. She had been a resident of Defiance, Ohio, before moving to Lafayette, Colorado. She was born in Defiance County, Ohio, on December 23, 1930, the daughter of Zoma O. and Edna L. (Wellman) Mansfield. She graduated from Ayersville High School in 1948, from Defiance College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in 1971 and from Bowling Green State University with a Master's Degree in Counseling in 1975. On June 12, 1949, she married Charles Robert Rettig who died on January 25, 1967. She began her career in education in the Defiance City Schools as a classroom teacher for four years. She became a guidance counselor at the Middle School and then moved to the Junior High School as a counselor. During that time she helped develop and was the first coordinator for the Mentoring Program for the Defiance City Schools. She was also involved in the Career Education Program for the City Schools for several years, She was a member of St. John United Church of Christ, Defiance, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Boulder, Colorado, Defiance City Education Association, Ohio Education Association, National Education Association, Northwest Ohio Education Association, Phi Delta Kappa, Defiance County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Task Force, Defiance 2000 Goals 6 and 2, and the Defiance Area Gang-Violence Task Force. She was the recipient of the 1996 Chamber of Commerce Athena Award. She was an avid reader, enjoyed being with family and friends, walking, music and travel. She had a passion for guiding and helping young people who had problems and needed extra attention. She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Roma Mansfield, E. Verden Mansfield, William Mansfield and Paul Mansfield; two sisters, Marcella Ketner and Roberta Zachrich. Beverly is survived by three daughters, Lynette R. (Terry) Feeney, Nyona Lake, Indiana, Annette K. (Michael) Kretz, Big Rapids, Michigan, and Jennifer (Steve) Manfredini, Lafayette, Colorado; four grandchildren, Abby (Josh) Perdue, Carolina Beach, North Carolina, Rob Bokop, Chicago, Illinois, Nicholas Manfredini, Edmonton, Alberta, and Gianna Manfredini, Boulder, Colorado; two great-grandchildren, Riley Perdue and Jack Perdue, Carolina Beach, North Carolina; one brother, Gerald (Janice) Mansfield, Defiance; two sisters, Janet (Charles) Koch and Carole (J. Roger) Engel, Defiance.