Official Obituary of
Donald Walter Bretz
February 21, 1957 ~ September 5, 2015 (age 58) 58 Years Old
Donald Bretz Obituary
Chaplain (Lt. Colonel) Donald W. Bretz
Donald Walter Bretz
He lived at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Age 58
Died at Gilchrist Hospice Facility in Towson, Maryland
September 5, 5:15 a.m.
Cause of death: Primary Brain Cancer (Glioblastoma)
Born February 21, 1957 IN Portsmouth, Ohio
Parents: Donald Walter Bretz, Sr. and Jean Johnson Bretz
Married Darla Fay Arns on March 31, 1979 in Forest Park, Ohio
EDUCATION:
> Bachelor of Science, 1979, University of Cincinnati
> Masters in Human Relations, 1981, Webster University, Missouri
> Master of Divinity, 1985, Seminary of the Southwest, Austin Texas
> Squadron Officer School, 1999; Air Command and Staff College, 2008; Air War College, 2012.
EMPLOYMENT:
> Chaplain Bretz was originally commissioned an Army Medical Service Corps Officer in 1979 and served on active duty at Ft. Hood, Texas and Ft. Sam Houston, Texas until separating in 1985 to enter seminary. He remained in the Army Reserve until entering full-time parish ministry in 1988. From 1988 to 1991, he served as Associate Rector, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Corpus Christi, Texas. From 1991 till 1994, he served as Rector at Christ Church, Wellsburg, West Virginia. From 1994 till 1998, he served as Associate Rector, Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd, Parkersburg, West Virginia. In 1998 he was commissioned as an Air Force Chaplain and has served as an Installation Chaplain, Senior Ministries Chaplain, Senior Protestant Chaplain and Wing Chaplain. Father Bretz was endorsed by the Episcopal Bishop for Federal Ministries.
AIR FORCE ASSIGNMENTS:
> 1. Jun 98 - Nov 01, Chaplain, 305 AMW, McGuire AFB, NJ
> 2. Nov 01 - Jun 02, Chaplain, 12 SWS, Thule AB, Greenland
> 3. Jun 02 - Nov 02, Installation Chaplain, 821 ABG, Thule AB, Greenland
> 4. Nov 02 - Nov 03, Chaplain, 72 ABW, Tinker AFB, OK
> 5. Nov 03 - Nov 04, Senior Ministries Chaplain, 72 ABW, Tinker AFB, OK
> 6. Nov 04 - May 05, Senior Protestant Chaplain, 72 ABW, Tinker AFB, OK
> 7. May 05 - Jun 06, Chaplain (Resident), Clinical Pastoral Education, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, TX
> 8. Jul 06 - May 09, Senior Protestant Chaplain, 11 WG, Bolling AFB, DC
> 9. May 09 - Oct 12, Wing Chaplain, 71 FTW, Vance AFB, OK
> 10. Oct 12 - Present, Command Chaplain, USCYBERCOM, Ft Meade, MD
MILITARY DECORATIONS AND REWARDS
> Defense Superior Service Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, AF Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, AF Outstanding Unit Award with 6 Oak Leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal, AF Overseas Ribbon Short with ‘A' Device, AF Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, AF Longevity Service with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, AF Training Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon.
INTERESTS:
> Serving God
> Family
> Motorcycle riding
> Playing instruments
> Genealogy
> History
> Outdoor activities
> Campfires
> Night sky - pondering God
> "Getting out of Dodge"
> Canasta and Rook card games
> Amish Country
> Walks on the beach, talking to God
FAMILY:
> Survived by his spouse, Darla; son Christopher Michael Bretz, daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Vincent Sasso; grandchildren, William Donald and Wesley Vincent Sasso, and numerous relatives by marriage and blood.
> Predeceased by his parents, Donald W. Bretz, Sr. and Jean Johnson.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: The Musella Foundation For Brain Tumor Research & Information, Inc. (A 501(c)3 nonprofit public charity).
1100 Peninsula Blvd
Hewlett, NY 11557
888-295-4740
musella@virtualtrials.com
> Don's words: "Cancer and death do not have the final victory."
> His wife's words: "Totally Unusual Man"
1170 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD, 20852
Donald Walter Bretz
He lived at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Age 58
Died at Gilchrist Hospice Facility in Towson, Maryland
September 5, 5:15 a.m.
Cause of death: Primary Brain Cancer (Glioblastoma)
Born February 21, 1957 IN Portsmouth, Ohio
Parents: Donald Walter Bretz, Sr. and Jean Johnson Bretz
Married Darla Fay Arns on March 31, 1979 in Forest Park, Ohio
EDUCATION:
> Bachelor of Science, 1979, University of Cincinnati
> Masters in Human Relations, 1981, Webster University, Missouri
> Master of Divinity, 1985, Seminary of the Southwest, Austin Texas
> Squadron Officer School, 1999; Air Command and Staff College, 2008; Air War College, 2012.
EMPLOYMENT:
> Chaplain Bretz was originally commissioned an Army Medical Service Corps Officer in 1979 and served on active duty at Ft. Hood, Texas and Ft. Sam Houston, Texas until separating in 1985 to enter seminary. He remained in the Army Reserve until entering full-time parish ministry in 1988. From 1988 to 1991, he served as Associate Rector, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Corpus Christi, Texas. From 1991 till 1994, he served as Rector at Christ Church, Wellsburg, West Virginia. From 1994 till 1998, he served as Associate Rector, Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd, Parkersburg, West Virginia. In 1998 he was commissioned as an Air Force Chaplain and has served as an Installation Chaplain, Senior Ministries Chaplain, Senior Protestant Chaplain and Wing Chaplain. Father Bretz was endorsed by the Episcopal Bishop for Federal Ministries.
AIR FORCE ASSIGNMENTS:
> 1. Jun 98 - Nov 01, Chaplain, 305 AMW, McGuire AFB, NJ
> 2. Nov 01 - Jun 02, Chaplain, 12 SWS, Thule AB, Greenland
> 3. Jun 02 - Nov 02, Installation Chaplain, 821 ABG, Thule AB, Greenland
> 4. Nov 02 - Nov 03, Chaplain, 72 ABW, Tinker AFB, OK
> 5. Nov 03 - Nov 04, Senior Ministries Chaplain, 72 ABW, Tinker AFB, OK
> 6. Nov 04 - May 05, Senior Protestant Chaplain, 72 ABW, Tinker AFB, OK
> 7. May 05 - Jun 06, Chaplain (Resident), Clinical Pastoral Education, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, TX
> 8. Jul 06 - May 09, Senior Protestant Chaplain, 11 WG, Bolling AFB, DC
> 9. May 09 - Oct 12, Wing Chaplain, 71 FTW, Vance AFB, OK
> 10. Oct 12 - Present, Command Chaplain, USCYBERCOM, Ft Meade, MD
MILITARY DECORATIONS AND REWARDS
> Defense Superior Service Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, AF Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, AF Outstanding Unit Award with 6 Oak Leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal, AF Overseas Ribbon Short with ‘A' Device, AF Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, AF Longevity Service with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, AF Training Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon.
INTERESTS:
> Serving God
> Family
> Motorcycle riding
> Playing instruments
> Genealogy
> History
> Outdoor activities
> Campfires
> Night sky - pondering God
> "Getting out of Dodge"
> Canasta and Rook card games
> Amish Country
> Walks on the beach, talking to God
FAMILY:
> Survived by his spouse, Darla; son Christopher Michael Bretz, daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Vincent Sasso; grandchildren, William Donald and Wesley Vincent Sasso, and numerous relatives by marriage and blood.
> Predeceased by his parents, Donald W. Bretz, Sr. and Jean Johnson.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: The Musella Foundation For Brain Tumor Research & Information, Inc. (A 501(c)3 nonprofit public charity).
1100 Peninsula Blvd
Hewlett, NY 11557
888-295-4740
musella@virtualtrials.com
> Don's words: "Cancer and death do not have the final victory."
> His wife's words: "Totally Unusual Man"
Visitation
SEP 9. 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care1170 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD, 20852
Chapel Service
SEP 10. 10:00 AM
St Mark's Episcopal Church Alexandria, VA 22306Friends and family have shared their relationship to show their support.
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Donald Bretz
February 21, 1957-September 5, 2015
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