The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Mike was born in Janesville, Wi., March 17, 1945 to Virginia (Rahr) and Carl Kretschman.

He contracted polio at the age of four and spent much of his youth in and out of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Mn. Through what was then pioneering surgery, Mike was able to overcome the physical debilitation of polio, graduated from Janesville Senior High School in 1963 and obtained a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin in 1967.

He went to work as a chemical engineer for BF Goodrich, initially in Ohio, transferring in the early 1970’s to a new synthetic rubber plant being built near Orange. He retired in 2000 when he began to experience the effects of post-polio syndrome. Mike was an avid gardener, was active in AA, and the Power Squadron for many years.

He is survived by his daughter, Katherine (Will Swiney) and grandchildren, Kennedy, Kassidy and Carter Michael, both of Orange; brother Steve (Mary) Kretschman of Grand Rapids, Mi; nephews, Peter Michael Kretschman of Ann Arbor, Mi. and Joel (Olivia) Kretschman of New Suffolk, NY and a niece, Kathy (Josh) Tyron of Grand Rapids.

A visitation will be held from 5:00-9:00 pm, Wednesday, Feb. 17, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Cremation will follow under the direction of Claybar Haven of Rest Crematory.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the charity of your choice.