John H. Raetz

John H. Raetz

John Harry Raetz died October 4, 2022, at the age of 88 in Mesquite, Nevada. For the last eight years he had been living off the grid in Wasilla, Alaska, and loved fishing, hunting, and hanging with his friends at The Tug where he was known as “Grandpa,” “Old Man,” “Castle John,” or “Knik Cowboy.”. He recently moved to Overton to be closer to his children in the lower forty-eight.

John was born in Yuba City, California, April 18, 1934, to Emil Harry Raetz, Sr. and Rose Mary Allen Nunes. He worked in a bakery during high school; served three years in the Marines during the Korean War; worked for the Bell Telephone Company in Las Vegas; spent several years as a farmer/rancher and construction worker in Pahrump, NV with his first wife, Patricia Murray and eight children. After thirty years in Pahrump, he continued ranching when he moved to Beryl, Utah. After the death of his second wife, Lenore, he “headed north to Alaska” and has enjoyed his wild life there for the last several years.

John is survived by 11 children, two sisters, three brothers, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Children: Cynthia (Matt) Nelson, Marie Becht, Marjorie (Eduardo) Gonzalez, Sharon Pineda, Andrew (Heather) Raetz, Dean (Sabrina) Raetz, Sara (Timothy) Day, Frank (Carmen) Raetz, Leann (Robert) Hudley, Richard Schneider, Laurie (George) Letourneau; Siblings: Cecil Raetz, Ronald (Patricia) Raetz, Stephen (Jackie) Raetz, Barbara (Robert) Wilson, Patricia (Richard) Rose. John was preceded in death by his wife: Lenore (Sayers); his parents and two brothers: Leroy Raetz and Emil Harry Raetz, Jr.

An Alaska memorial potluck is scheduled for Saturday, October 15, 2PM, at Tug Bar, Mile 18.5 Knik Goose Bay Rd, Wasilla, AK 99654. Bring a dish and share your favorite John Raetz story.

In Las Vegas, the family invites you to a celebration to honor and remember our dynamic, big-talking, fun-loving, jack of all trades. The memorial is scheduled for Friday, October 21, 2022, 4 PM, at the American Legion Post 8, at 733 Veterans Memorial Drive, followed by dinner for all friends and family.

In lieu of flowers, donate to The Last Frontier Honor Flight in the name of John Raetz. [https://www.lastfrontierhonorflight.com/donate] or [PO Box 875021, Wasilla, AK 99687]

If you would like to send a note to the Raetz family, please mail to: Cynthia Nelson, PO Box 944, Overton, NV 89040.