Patrick Herbert "Pat" Kretsch

Patrick "Pat" Herbert Kretsch, age 87 of New Ulm died peacefully on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

Mass of Christian burial will be 11am on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Ulm. Father Jerry Meidl will celebrate the Mass, and burial will take place at a later date.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 pm on Friday, March 27, 2026, at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home-South Chapel in New Ulm. The visitation will continue from 10-11 am on Saturday at St. Mary's Church prior to the Mass.

To leave an online condolence for his family, or to sign the guestbook, go to: mvfh.org

Patrick is survived by his wife, Colleen Kretsch of rural New Ulm; his daughter, Patti (Dave) Dittrich of New Ulm; his son, Brian (Jenifer) Kretsch of Gibbon; his grandchildren, Liza, Tony, Katie, Jessica, Sammie, Hunter, and Allie; and his great-grandchildren, Anton, Emmie, and Jade; his sister, Monica (Randy) Wenninger of New Ulm; his brother, Ernie (Theresia) Kretsch of New Ulm; his sisters-in-law, Janice Kretsch of New Ulm, Shirleen Gulden of Mankato; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and close friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his identical twin brother, Paul Kretsch; and his granddaughter, Ellie Dittrich; and his brother-in-law, Jerry Gulden.

Patrick "Pat" Herbert Kretsch was born March 25, 1938, in New Ulm to Anton and Eleanor (Haala) Kretsch. He grew up in rural New Ulm, attending country school and St. Mary's Grade School, and later graduating from New Ulm High School with the class of 1956.

During high school, Pat began working at the Sigel Creamery while also farming with his family. Through hard work and dedication, he worked his way to the position of assistant manager at the Lafayette Creamery. Baseball was a lifelong passion for Pat. He began playing ball with the Stark baseball team at the age of 15 and later played with the Lafayette Hawks and the Hanska baseball team during his younger years.

On July 15, 1961, Pat was united in marriage to Collen Franta at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm. Together they built a life in New Ulm and were blessed with two children, a son and a daughter.

Pat later earned his chief engineer's license and went to work at the Hauenstein Brewery, where he was employed for many years until the brewery closed. Afterward, he worked for the City of New Ulm. In 1969, Pat was presented with the opportunity to join American Family Insurance. He embraced the opportunity and went on to build a successful career as an insurance agent. In 1981, Pat and Collen renovated a building that became the home of his agency in New Ulm, where he served many loyal clients and formed lasting friendships until his retirement on July 1, 1998.

Sports remained an important part of Pat's life. He was instrumental in organizing and starting several local softball teams over the years, including the Hauenstein Brewery, Kretsch's Bar, Archie's Bar, and American Family softball teams. One of his proudest moments came in 1983 when he had the opportunity to play on the same team as his son, Brian.

Pat was deeply proud of his German Bohemian heritage. For more than 40 years, he was an active and influential member of the German Bohemian Society in New Ulm, serving both on the board and as president. He also completed a special project that meant a great deal to him when he had the opportunity to finish a book his brother Paul had started by translating it into the German Bohemian dialect.

A man of many talents, Pat was also a gifted artist who enjoyed drawing as well as self-portraits and still life oil paintings. He was always willing to try something new and was also known as a skilled carpenter and handyman. Truly a jack-of-all-trades, Pat put many of those talents to use improving the country home he and Collen purchased in 1987.

Music was another of Pat's many gifts. A talented singer, he shared his voice at numerous weddings, funerals, and special occasions. He also had the opportunity to travel many times to Europe while performing with the German Bohemian Heritage Singers.

Beginning in 1980, Pat and Collen developed a love for travel and adventure. Together they visited all 50 states and explored four continents. Pat also cherished time spent outdoors. Whether relaxing on a lake while fishing, golfing on area courses, enjoying the quiet beauty of the woods during deer hunting season, or riding snowmobile trails with friends, he found great joy in the outdoors. He also had a lifelong love of pigeons that he spent many years raising. Many treasured family memories were later made at the lake home they purchased in Cokato in 2006.

Pat was known for his "gift of gab," but he was also a thoughtful listener. Friends and family knew him as a wonderful storyteller and a passionate student of history with an incredible memory for people and events. Above all, he was a loyal and dependable friend who was always willing to lend a helping hand to someone in need. Pat was a faithful member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Ulm and to give back to the city he loved, he served two terms on the City of New Ulm's Planning Commission.

More than anything in life, Pat treasured his family. He took great pride in his children and grandchildren and found immense joy in the time he spent with them and the memories they created together over the years. Whether it was sharing stories, traveling together, enjoying time at the lake, or simply being together, those moments meant the most to him. Pat will be remembered for his many talents, his deep love for family and heritage, his quick wit, and the countless friendships he formed throughout his life. His presence will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him. Blessed be his memory.

Memorials are preferred to the German Bohemian Heritage Society Memorial Fund, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, or the donor's choice.

To send a flower arrangement in memory of Patrick "Pat" Herbert Kretsch, please click here to visit our sympathy store.