Jacob Ernest Kretzing

Jacob Ernest "Jake" Kretzing, Jr., 48, died May 23, 2014 in his Oley Township residence.

He was the husband of Casey Michelle Stokes-Kretzing whom he married September 7, 1997.

Born in Carlisle, Cumberland County, he was a son of the late Jacob Ernest, Sr. and Joyce Elizabeth (Gehr) Kretzing.

Jake was a 1983 graduate of Cumberland Valley High School. He earned his BS in Engineering and his MBA from Penn State University.

He was the co-owner/operator for Green Castle Consulting for 16 years.

Jake was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Reading.

A loving husband and father, who had a great sense of humor, Jake enjoyed carpentry work, hunting and taking trips with his family. He loved football and his favorite team depended on which son he was watching the game with.

Jake enlisted into the Regular Army 7/1983-7/1991, separating a Sergeant/E5 29S2P Field Communications Security Equipment Repairer. During this timeframe he was assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and was deployed to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Additional locations of duty while assigned to 10th SFG(A) include Fort Devens, MA and Germany. Also Jake attended numerous training to include the Army Airborne Course, Jumpmaster Course, and was rated as a Senior Parachutist.

After Jake's separation from Active Duty, he was briefly assigned to the US Army Reserve (Headquaters/Headquarters Company (HHC) 157th Support Battalion) in Edgemont PA. After learning of an airborne unit within PA Army National Guard, Jake requested immediate transfer as was assigned to the 104th Infantry Detachment (Long Range Surveillance) on 26 NOV 1991. Jake accelerated thru the ranks as a competent signalman and was eventually promoted to Sergeant First Class (SFC/E7) on 28 June 1996. During this time Jake became rated as a Master Parachutist, graduated from the US Army Pathfinder Course and the French Commando School in French Martinique.

Thru individual merit of military experience and college education, Jake was directly (bypassing Officer Candidates School-OCS) commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in PA Army National Guard on 9 AUG 1999, remained assigned to the 104th INF DET (LRS) and served as their Executive Officer. Jake was later promoted to Captain and assigned as the Commander of the 104th INF DET (LRS) from 3 JUN 2004 thru 20 MAR 2008. During this timeframe Jake attended numerous courses to include Infantry Officer Basic Course; US Army Air Assault Course; Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape (SERE) Course; and the US Army Rappel Master Course.

Jake served over 25 years in the Army, accumulated over 200 tactical and non-tactical parachute jumps and was awarded the following awards and decorations:

Meritorious Service Medal

Army Commendation Medal-4th Award

Army Achievement Medal-5th Award

Army Good Conduct Medal-2nd award

National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star

Southwest Asia Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars

Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 3

Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ Silver Hourglass

Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal-5th award

Kuwait Liberation Medal (Government of Kuwait)

Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 2

Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon with Numeral 2

Master Parachutist Badge

Air Assault Badge

Pathfinder Badge

French Commando Badge

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are his three children, Jacob E. (13), Jackson E. (11) and Jonah E. (8).

Other survivors include his sister, Christine, wife of William Keehn of TN; Michelle Arnold of Mechanicsburg and Elizabeth, wife of Douglass Moore of Camp Hill, Cumberland County.

Services will be Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in First Presbyterian Church, 37 S 5th Street, Reading. Viewings will be held Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 37 S 5th Street, Reading. Burial will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.

Kuhn-Stitzel Funeral Homes and Crematory, Inc., Oley is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, visit www.kuhnstitzelfuneralhomes.com.