Henry W. Kretschmaier, Jr., known affectionately to friends and family as "Hank," age 92, of Middletown, DE, passed away on February 4, 2026. Born in Etna, PA, to the late Anna (Rozankovic) and Henry W. Kretschmaier, Hank was a man of great intellect, immense integrity, and an even deeper love for his family.

A proud graduate of Mount St. Mary's College Class of 1955, Hank remained a dedicated alumnus throughout his life, recently attending his 70th reunion. His professional legacy was one of significant impact; he served as a Federal Government employee for over 30 years. During his distinguished career, he ran a food lab at the FDA and was instrumental in helping write the original health warnings found on cigarette packaging.

Hank was a man of many passions and a proud member of the Croatian Fraternal Union (CFU). His heritage was so important to him that he made sure all of his children and grandchildren were members of the CFU as well. In his younger years, he was a dedicated volunteer at his church, where he could often be found helping out with Bingo and various other church events. In his prime, he was an active presence on the softball field and the golf course. He also loved the excitement of the harness races, where he enjoyed spending an early evening betting a few bucks on his favorite horses.

A true Pittsburgher at heart, Hank never lost his appreciation for a good meal, especially Pittsburgh kielbasa, pierogies, sarma, and barbecue lamb. He also famously had a sweet tooth; he was a man who would never turn down a good pastry or a thick slice of chocolate cake.

Beyond his hobbies, Hank embodied the spirit of giving. An avid German Christmas collector, he played Santa for his community for many years, a role that eventually led to a prestigious invitation to the White House. However, his true "happy place" remained his beach house in Ocean City, Maryland (OCMD). His family will forever cherish the memory of him sitting on the enclosed porch there, peacefully enjoying a very hot cup of coffee while looking out at the day.

Hank was the type of man others strive to be—a man who consistently put others first and took care of his family all the way to the end. He was, in every sense, a true family man.

Hank is survived by his beloved wife, Roselyn (Yonko). He was the devoted father of three daughters: Michelle (Joe) Hussey, Michon Kretschmaier, and Sheri Kretschmaier. He was the proud grandfather of J.P., Jr. (Rachael), Christopher (Alicia), Alexis (Jake), and Nicholas (Molly). His legacy continues through his six great-grandchildren: Tripp, Jameson, Brooklyn, Clara, Rose, and Zoey. He is also survived by his brothers, Regis (Joan) Kretschmaier and David (Linda) Kretschmaier; his cousins, Vince Jaksic and Richard Savor; and his nieces and nephew.

A visitation for Hank will be held at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 800 W. Lea Blvd, Wilmington, DE 19802 on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, from 10 A.M. to 11 A.M. with a Mass of Christian burial to follow at 11 A.M. Burial will be held privately.