Erwin Neil Kretzmeier, 77, of West Lafayette, passed away on Wednesday, November 11, 2020 in his home due to cancer. He was born October 10, 1943, in Tippecanoe County, IN, to the late John and Lena Keith Kretzmeier. Erwin graduated from Pine Township High School in Benton County 1961 and received his bachelors from PurdueContinue Reading
Sue Ellen Schilling
left a message on December 21, 2020:
Such a dedicated educator - my high school chemistry teacher. He spent countless early mornings tutoring those of us who wanted to go over the current day's problem set or assignment. He always had a picture on his desk of his little schnauzers. We loved his humor and appreciated his patience - he was one of the best teachers I had throughout my education.
Dennis Boyd
left a message on December 16, 2020:
Do sorry to hear about Erwin's passing. I worked with him at Caterpillar when he'd work there during summers while at Jefferson High School. He was a great guy.
Brian and Shelley Sterner
left a message on November 17, 2020:
Very sorry to learn of Erwin's passing. We met him a few years ago, while working the Birdie Bash. We missed seeing him this year and didn't know he wasn't well. Everyone that golfed seemed to lovingly know him as either "Mr. Kretz" or "Kretz". He was a very nice man and will be missed by all who knew him. Our deepest sympathy to his family.
Scott McBride
left a message on November 17, 2020:
My deepest condolences to the Kretzmeier family. Mr. Kretzmeier was my chemistry teacher twice in my 1985-1988 time at Jeff. I loved his class as a sophomore so much that my friends and I took his Chem 3 class--a whole semester of nothing but lab work with Mr. Kretzmeier. He was the most dedicated and caring teacher and took such a deep personal interest in all of our successes. And he had the most self-aware and unassuming sense of humor. Which he would deploy to wake us up, settle us down, or simply because he thought something was funny. I managed to stay in touch with him for some years after graduating, although eventually drifted away. He was a strong influence on me. I became a chemistry major because of the love of science he instilled in me. I became a high school chemistry teacher (for some number of years) because I wanted to impact kids they way he impacted me. I wanted them to see the crazy beauty in chemistry that he showed me. And to this day I am swimming in science and chemistry on a daily basis in my job because I have never lost that love of it that I learned in his class. It has been a few years since I really thought about Mr. Kretzmeier (when relating stories to my own then-HS-aged children as they took chemistry). I am so sad to hear that he is gone. But I will never forget him.
Kay Whistler
left a message on November 17, 2020:
Phil & the Kretzmeier family:
May years of loving memories help each of you navigate your feelings of loss in the upcoming days/weeks.
Sincere condolences?
Kay Whistler (Linda Alt’s Cousin)
Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.
Jill Pritchard
left a message on November 17, 2020:
Mr. Kretzmeier was such an inspirational teacher. I took his Honors Chemistry class as a sophomore and it was clear I was in way over my head. He encouraged me to work hard and stay in Honors Chem and worked with me after school to make sure I understood and grasped the concepts. I still recall the experiment to determine a Mole! He made such a strong impression as a standard that all teachers should strive. My heart goes out to his family.
Matthew Luecke
left a message on November 16, 2020:
My condolences to the family of one of the most memorable teachers I ever had (Jefferson High School, chemistry 1989-1990 school year). I even thought of him today before seeing the obituary. He will be missed.
left a message:
Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.
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Sue Ellen Schilling
left a message on December 21, 2020:
Such a dedicated educator - my high school chemistry teacher. He spent countless early mornings tutoring those of us who wanted to go over the current day's problem set or assignment. He always had a picture on his desk of his little schnauzers. We loved his humor and appreciated his patience - he was one of the best teachers I had throughout my education.
Dennis Boyd
left a message on December 16, 2020:
Do sorry to hear about Erwin's passing. I worked with him at Caterpillar when he'd work there during summers while at Jefferson High School. He was a great guy.
Brian and Shelley Sterner
left a message on November 17, 2020:
Very sorry to learn of Erwin's passing. We met him a few years ago, while working the Birdie Bash. We missed seeing him this year and didn't know he wasn't well. Everyone that golfed seemed to lovingly know him as either "Mr. Kretz" or "Kretz". He was a very nice man and will be missed by all who knew him. Our deepest sympathy to his family.
Scott McBride
left a message on November 17, 2020:
My deepest condolences to the Kretzmeier family. Mr. Kretzmeier was my chemistry teacher twice in my 1985-1988 time at Jeff. I loved his class as a sophomore so much that my friends and I took his Chem 3 class--a whole semester of nothing but lab work with Mr. Kretzmeier. He was the most dedicated and caring teacher and took such a deep personal interest in all of our successes. And he had the most self-aware and unassuming sense of humor. Which he would deploy to wake us up, settle us down, or simply because he thought something was funny. I managed to stay in touch with him for some years after graduating, although eventually drifted away. He was a strong influence on me. I became a chemistry major because of the love of science he instilled in me. I became a high school chemistry teacher (for some number of years) because I wanted to impact kids they way he impacted me. I wanted them to see the crazy beauty in chemistry that he showed me. And to this day I am swimming in science and chemistry on a daily basis in my job because I have never lost that love of it that I learned in his class. It has been a few years since I really thought about Mr. Kretzmeier (when relating stories to my own then-HS-aged children as they took chemistry). I am so sad to hear that he is gone. But I will never forget him.
Kay Whistler
left a message on November 17, 2020:
Phil & the Kretzmeier family:
May years of loving memories help each of you navigate your feelings of loss in the upcoming days/weeks.
Sincere condolences?
Kay Whistler (Linda Alt’s Cousin)
Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.
Jill Pritchard
left a message on November 17, 2020:
Mr. Kretzmeier was such an inspirational teacher. I took his Honors Chemistry class as a sophomore and it was clear I was in way over my head. He encouraged me to work hard and stay in Honors Chem and worked with me after school to make sure I understood and grasped the concepts. I still recall the experiment to determine a Mole! He made such a strong impression as a standard that all teachers should strive. My heart goes out to his family.
Matthew Luecke
left a message on November 16, 2020:
My condolences to the family of one of the most memorable teachers I ever had (Jefferson High School, chemistry 1989-1990 school year). I even thought of him today before seeing the obituary. He will be missed.
left a message:
Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.