Jay E. Kretzing

JAY “YOGI” KRETZING

Jay “Yogi” Kretzing, 68 of Elizabethtown, PA, went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 18, 2014 at Masonic Village, Elizabethtown, PA, surrounded by his family and friends.

He was born on June 10, 1945, the son of the late Donald and Emma (Wenger) Kretzing. He was the husband of Diane L. Hoover Kretzing. On September 1, 2013 they celebrated 23 years of marriage.

He was a 1963 graduate of Elizabethtown Area High School, where he played football and baseball. While in school and then after, he worked at Acme Markets. In 1973 he started working at Agway, Inc. as a truck driver for 30 years. While there he was a driver/trainer and member of the Million Mile Club. He also participated in many of the PMTA-SMC State Truck Rodeos. In 2001 he joined Pioneer Hi-Bred Seed until he retired in 2011. He worked part-time for Mueller’s Flower Shop delivering flowers for 30 years.

Yogi enjoyed traveling, especially to Penn State home and away football games. He traveled to Hawaii, Bermuda, and in 2010 took a three-week trip to Alaska, the Yukon Territory, and Canada.

He also enjoyed snowmobiling during the winter at his camp in Potter County with family and friends and four-wheeling in the spring with his grandchildren. He found great joy watching his grandchildren at their sporting events.

When Yogi was 18 years old he started his volunteer firefighting career. In 1963 he joined the E-town Fire Company where he held various offices. In 1978 he moved to Rheems and joined their fire company where he again held various offices and ran ambulance with both companies. He is a life member at both fire companies. In 1986 he was awarded Fireman of the Year and in 2001 he became a life member of the Lancaster County Fireman’s Association.

He was an active member of the Christ Church, UCC in Elizabethtown where he served on various committees. He was also a member of Abraham C. Treichler Lodge #682 F&AM.

Surviving in addition to his wife are four children; Keith A (Erika) Kretzing, Kevin A (Jami) Kretzing, Scott (Heidi) Steffen, all of Mount Joy and Denise (Wesley, Jr.) Geib of Manheim and grandchildren; Sophia Kretzing, Andrew Stoner, Brooke Kretzing, Kayla and Zack Steffen, and Wesley III and Alexandria Geib. He was also a godfather to Jonathan Stanford of Rheems and Luke Wilson of Shinglehouse.

Funeral services will be held at 11am on Saturday, January 25, 2014 in Christ Church United Church of Christ, 247 S. Market St., Elizabethtown, PA. Interment will be in Mount Joy Cemetery, Mount Joy, PA.

Viewing will be from 9am until 11am on Saturday, January 25, 2014 in the church.

Arrangements are under the care of the Miller-Sekely Funeral Home & Crematory of Elizabethtown. www.millerfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the church’s Youth Mission Fund at the above address or Rheems Fire Company, 350 Anchor Road, Elizabethtown, PA, 17022.