Kaymary Rettig

Kaymary Rettig (Young), age 80, passed away peacefully on August 29, 2024. Kaymary was born on April 19, 1944, in St. Johns to the late Chalmer and Katherine (Hileman) Young. She was also preceded in death by her brother and sister-in-law, John and Carole Young. Kaymary was raised in Bay City and graduated from Bay City Central High School in 1962. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in early elementary education. In 1969, she received a master’s degree in library science from the University of Southern California. Kaymary furthered her education by taking business administration courses. She completed her CPA in 1980 after finishing course work at Northern Michigan University. Kaymary worked in the accounting field in Escanaba before moving to Grand Rapids in 2013 to be near her grandchildren. On June 25, 1966, she married James Rettig. Her husband of 58 years survives as do their son, David Rettig, and his children, Lily and Eli and their daughter, Kate (John Matthew) Lane, and their children, John, Jaiden, and Dream. Kaymary had a lifelong passion for horses. In her childhood, she played with a group of girls known as the Fifth Street Five, galloping through the neighborhood. She would later own her own horses and spend time working on ranches out West. Kaymary would beam knowing her grandson Eli inherited her love of horses. She loved the ballet. She and her granddaughter, Lily, attended the ballet together inspiring Lily to pursue an interest in culture and athletics. Kaymary’s friends and family will always remember her kindness and concern for others. According to her wishes, cremation has taken place. A Celebration of her Life will be held on Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 11 AM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW, with Rev. W. Frederick Wooden officiating. Friends may visit with her family beginning at 10 AM, with a luncheon following the service. To read more of Kaymary’s Life Story, leave a memory or sign the guestbook, please visit www.heritagelifestory.com.

When looking back on the overflowing life of Kaymary Rettig, it is easy to see both her unwavering strength and unconditional love for her family. She was a shining example of kindness and generosity. Nothing brought Kaymary greater joy than spending time with her loved ones, no matter how simple or brief the moments. Her serving heart allowed her to touch the lives of countless others. Deeply missed, Kaymary will be forever cherished and remembered by those who knew her best.

The 1940s are remembered as a time of great tension for the United States and the rest of the globe as WWII raged on. Many brave servicemen were called away from home to serve their country, and those who remained stateside listened to their radios for news and did their part to support the war effort through strict rationing. It was during this tumultuous time that Chalmer and Katherine (Hileman) Young were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their second child. On April 19, 1944, they welcomed their daughter, who they named Kaymary, into the world.

Growing up, Kaymary was a typical young girl of her generation in many ways. She was raised in the family home in Bay City, Michigan, alongside her older brother, John. Kaymary’s father, Chalmer, was an educator and coach at Bay City Central High School while her mother, Katherine, trained student teachers for the first grade. The Young family attended Presbyterian Church, where Kaymary built the foundation of her faith. She was one of the “Fifth Street Five,” which consisted of a group of neighborhood girls that would pretend to ride horses together and became very close friends.

Throughout her teenage years, Kaymary found great purpose in helping those in her community in whatever ways she could. She would serve the local migrant community, and she discovered she had a real passion for caring for others. Kaymary enjoyed a very full social life during her time in high school. She graduated from Bay City Central High School in 1962, then went on to attend the University of Michigan, where she was active in the Alpha Phi sorority. Kaymary earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education, graduating from the University of Michigan in 1966.

Exciting changes were on the horizon for Kaymary as she met the man who would soon become the love of her life. His name was Jim Rettig, and the two first met on a blind date in November of 1964. They then attended a campus party for a football game, and their relationship continued to blossom from there. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together, Kaymary and Jim were married at the Presbyterian Church in Bay City on June 25, 1966. The newlyweds had a reception at a local hotel and a honeymoon road trip to San Francisco, where they would begin their future as husband and wife.

While living in San Francisco, Kaymary was employed as a second grade teacher while Jim completed his first year of law school. They moved in 1967 to Los Angeles where Kaymary studied at the University of Southern California graduating with a master's degree while Jim returned to teaching jr. high school history. In 1970, the couple moved to a cabin near Houghton, Michigan, that wasn’t winterized and had no running water. They then settled down in Ann Arbor in 1971 so that Jim could finish law school at Wayne State University while Kaymary worked at the University of Michigan as a secretary in the linguistics department. Kaymary lived in Detroit and worked in the public library for two years, while Jim served as a law clerk for a Michigan Supreme Court Justice, before she and Jim settled in Escanaba, Michigan. Jim practiced law, and Kaymary attended Northern Michigan University and earned her CPA in 1980.

All who knew Kaymary can certainly agree that, of all the things she loved in life, she treasured her family above all else. Their son, David, joined them in 1983, and they welcomed their daughter Kate in 1985. Kaymary thrived in her role as a mother, and she led her children towards strong morals and values by example. She instilled in David and Kate the pursuit of intellect, the arts, and culture. The primary lesson that Kaymary instilled upon her children was compassion for others. The family enjoyed many family vacations including Disney World, skiing in British Columbia, Club Med in St. Lucia, a cruise to the Bahamas, Mackinac Island, and Isle Royale all of which formed countless family memories. They, also, visited the Hiawatha Music Festival in Marquette several times. Later in life, Kaymary was thrilled to become a grandmother. She adored her grandchildren and even moved to Grand Rapids in 2013 in order to be closer to them. Kaymary always considered herself blessed to be surrounded by so many loved ones.

Never one to sit still for long, Karmary pursued many hobbies to stay busy in her free time. She had a lifelong love for horses, everything from riding them to caring for them. For a time, Kaymary worked on ranches out West, immersing herself in the experience. She rode horses all the way up through 2022. Kaymary enjoyed quilting and giving out her handmade quilts as gifts. She attended the Beaver Island Quilt Retreat, and she enjoyed attending the ballet and sharing her love for horses. Most of all, Kaymary liked to spend quality time with her loved ones.

As family and friends can surely attest, Kaymary Rettig truly understood the secret to a life well lived. She was a constant source of strength, even in the most difficult of times, and she was always willing to go above and beyond to serve others. A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Kaymary was a friend to many and beloved by all. She exemplified what it meant to be selfless and humble, and her primary focus in life was building deep and personal relationships with those around her. Though she will be dearly missed, Kaymary leaves behind a priceless legacy that her loved ones will be proud to carry on in her footsteps.