Richard Eugene Bretz

A funeral service celebrating the life of Richard “Dick” Eugene Bretz, age 83, of Newark, will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 11, at the Licking Valley Church of Christ, 1578 Dayton Road NE, Newark.  Burial will follow at Newark Memorial Gardens. Family and friends may attend visitation the same day of the service from 10-11 a.m. or on Wednesday, August 10, from 4-7 p.m. at the church.

Richard passed away unexpectedly at his home on Friday, August 5, 2022.  He was born March 3, 1939 in Sacramento, California, and was the son of the late Louis and Jean Bretz.

He was a 1957 graduate of Clovis High School, in Clovis, California, where he met and married the late Sharon Kay Shaffer, his wife of 60 years.

Richard was raised in a family of a multi-generational Lumber Mill owners in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where he learned to hunt and fish at an early age, leading to his unbelievable stories of “how the big one got away”.  He was a diehard Oakland Raiders, as well as a Buckeye fan. Richard never met a stranger, loved to talk, and had many friends in the community.

Richard retired from Dow Chemical, where he worked for 30 years as a Machine Specialist. His employment with Dow relocated him to northern Newark from Fresno, CA in 1974, where he and Sharon raised their three children. Their children attended North Fork Schools, and Richard and Sharon were proud Utica Redskin supporters and sponsors. Together, they spent many days and nights attending (and missing very few) of their children’s and grandchildren’s activities and sporting events. As Grandparents, they were also Newark Wildcat and Licking Valley Panther supporters for their grandchildren’s activities.

Richard is remembered for his pride and love for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and as a friend to many in the community.  

Richard is survived by his three children and their spouses, Carie (Greg) Ross, Laurie (Jeff) Kreager, and Mark (Jaci) Bretz, all of Newark; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Kaylynn Weaver of Newark,  Mallary (Stephen) Meyer and daughter, Lauralyn, of Pataskala, Cody (Leigh) Kreager and children, Lily and Jace, of Cincinnati, Molly Kreager (Geoff Smith) and daughter, Violet, of Newark, Clark (Bri) and children, Benelli, Troy, and Amelia of Lancaster, Howie (Meghan) Bretz and daughters, Sutton and Saylor of Newark, Emilee (Josh) Gaudio and sons Luca and George of New Albany, Casey (Amy) Needham and daughters Birdie and Charlie of New Albany, Lindsey (Anil) Das of Granville, Abbey Bretz and son, Jamison of Newark.

Richard is also survived by a sister, Pamela (Robert) Chaney of Clovis, California; brother-in-law, Gary (Karen) Shaffer of Porterville, California; and sister-in Law, Nancy Bretz of Clovis, California; several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon Kay (Shaffer) Bretz; sister, Gail Bretz and brother, Bill Bretz, of Clovis California.  

Memorial contributions can be made in Richard’s name to The Licking Valley Church of Christ, Youth Ministry, 1578 Dayton Road NE, Newark, Ohio 43055.

The Newark Chapel of Henderson-Van Atta-Stickle Funeral & Cremation Service is assisting the Bretz Family with arrangements.