Gunther (Joe) Rudolph Pretsch

Gunther (Joe) Rudolph Pretsch was born in Königsberg, East Prussia, Nov. 14, 1920, to Margarete and Rudolph Zebrowski-Pretsch. He grew up in a German American community on Long Island and Pennsylvania after immigrating to the US in 1925. Drafted in 1941 Gunther “GI Joe” served in the US Army (except for 2 years) until his retirement in 1966. In June 1944 he landed with the U.S. Army Transportation Corps in the second wave of the Normandy Invasion. He was a driver in the Red Ball Express transporting supplies until 1944. He was also a linguist for the Allies until 1945 interviewing POWs because of his background and skills. Joe and his family were stationed all over the US and in Germany, but his favorite post was in Hawaii. Joe married Lena Nace on April 14,1951 in his hometown of Blooming Glen, PA. They had three children, Kathy, Richard, and Roger. The family had many experiences as they lived off the military post to learn & experience the local culture while they were stationed there. After retiring from Army Intelligence, he moved the family to Mesa, AZ where he tried other careers in Sheet Metal at Williams Air Force Base, and maintenance for Mesa Public Schools. In his spare time, he bought properties and “flipped” them. An avid hunter and fisherman, Joe taught his children to enjoy nature and to be self-reliant in all circumstances. He and Lee traveled by van, motorhome and cruised extensively in their later years including a cruise around the world. Joe and Lee “retired” many times moving to Payson, AZ, Kona Hawaii, back to Mesa, AZ and finally in 2015 up to the White Mountains of AZ where their daughter, Kathy and her family lived. Joe was reunited on July 25, 2023, with his beloved wife Lee, who had preceded him in death 10/01/2020. His legacy is Richard (Cindy) their daughter, Christy; Roger (Janet) their daughters, Peyton, Jillian and son, Wesley: Kathy (Larry) son, Logan and daughter Becky (Matt) and six great- grandchildren.

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