David Rethwisch

1936 - 2023

David Clair Rethwisch, age 87, passed away peacefully on January 22, 2023, in Placerville, California. He was born in Carroll, Nebraska, on January 15, 1936, to Paul and Ardath (Roe) Rethwisch. The second of three children, David, is survived by his younger brother, Darel, his daughters, Julie Clement and Linda Rethwisch, and his granddaughter, Amber Young.

Raised on farms in Carroll, Nebraska, Bellflower, California, and Atwater, California, David was most at ease in nature. After graduating from Livingston High in 1953, David served in the Marine Corps and the Army Reserve. On March 30, 1958, David married his high school sweetheart, Lois Dameron. They were married for 43 years until Lois passed in 2001. David earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture from CSU Fresno and briefly worked in soil conservation in Napa, California. He then trained as a machinist at Mare Island in Vallejo, California, where he served for 30 years.

David loved the mountains and was an excellent caretaker of the land. He owned a Christmas Tree farm in St. Helena and later a Tree Farm in Somerset. He liked dirt bike riding and was an experienced rifle and bow hunter, completing his last hunting trip in 2022. David loved sunbathing and bodysurfing at the beach when not in the mountains. Beaches in Bora Bora and Maui were his favorite, but when in Napa, he preferred the coastline near Stinson Beach. His true passion, though, was Dixieland Jazz. David played the trumpet and cornet from an early age. He often played at Christmas and Easter services, most notably at St. John's Lutheran Church in Napa and First Lutheran Church in Placerville. An avid attendee of the annual Old Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, David enjoyed the festival from its inception in 1972 until its closing in 2018.

David will be remembered as a loving father and grandfather and for his kind and gentle heart. A Memorial Service will be held for him on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at First Lutheran Church, 1200 Pinecrest Court, Placerville, California 95667. The family will greet friends for refreshments and fellowship after the service. Memorials and gifts may be made to the First Lutheran Church Memorial Fund in David's name.