Laura M. Rettke

With family at her side, Laura Maureen Rettke passed away peacefully on April 28, 2025, while under hospice care at UW Hospital, Madison. Thyroid cancer has claimed another life.

Laura arrived on Christmas Day, 1957, in Chicago, IL, the second of six children born to Robert “Bob” and Margaret “Peg” (Lorch) Schaben. In 1958, the Schaben family moved to the smaller-town, nurturing environment of Sun Prairie, WI. The MacArthur Street neighborhood is where Laura thrived. She excelled in many areas and her heart was always in the right place. A talented and thoughtful gift-giver from a young age, she could wrap Christmas presents better than anyone. She sewed her own prom dress (Prom Queen, of course!), elaborate Halloween costumes for her kids, and clothes so well-made, they could be passed from sister to sister for years.

Laura sang in Concert Choir throughout high school and, in her Senior year, was cast as Lady Thiang in her high school production of The King & I. She brought dignity to the role and was able to stay in character when her fellow cast members got the giggles. Offstage and outdoors, Laura worked throughout high school as a crew boss at Renk’s Seed Corn Co. With great attention to detail, she was clear-spoken and firm but never yelled. However, anyone who saw Laura walking up their row can still describe the sinking feeling in their stomach. She was also fierce on the tennis court! A focused competitor, she faced opponents with confidence and determination. Gracious whether winning or losing, she only lorded it over one person when she finally beat him, never letting him forget it – her Dad!

While attending UW-Madison and working at the Hoffman House Restaurant at the /Dane County Airport, Laura met Terry Rettke who was working for Northwest Airlines (NWA). They began dating and indulging in a mutual interest, international air travel. By 1983, they planned and staged their wedding at the Jamieson House in Poynette, WI, on April 16, 1983. They honey-mooned on the western coast of Norway (in and around Alesund), where Terry has many relatives. By late 1983, the newlyweds moved to the Twin Cities area (Eagan, specifically) where Terry would pursue his 36-year career with NWA and Laura became remarkably successful selling health, life and long-term-care insurance. Among her major employers were Paul Burke & Associates (“PBA”), American Medical Security, Genworth and John Hancock. By 2016, Terry had retired and they moved to the Hawkes Reserve Condominium community on the west side of Madison, WI, to be near their children and one of Laura’s brothers. Laura continued her insurance work until 2018, when she also retired.

Not content to retire the financial planning and leadership skills she honed during her insurance career, Laura volunteered for and was elected to the Board of Directors of our Condo Association in 2021. By 2022, she was chosen Board President for a term of two years. True to the principle of financially securing one’s future health care, she and her fellow Board members made long-term financial viability of the Condo Association a priority and a legacy of her Board tenure.

Laura set the bar incredibly high in many human qualities: patience, humor, kindness, generosity, intelligence. She had a calming aura and a selfless attitude. We are blessed for knowing her as long as we did. Being big-hearted and a big fan of sci-fi, Laura leaves us all with her favorite farewells: I love you. Live long and prosper!

Laura is survived by her husband of 42 years, Terry, and children, Carl and Samantha; her maternal aunt, Sr. Pauline “Molly” Lorch; all five of her siblings: Tim (Suzanne), Robin, Greg, Eve, and Beth (Mike); her sister-in-law Debbie (Don); 14 nieces and nephews: Jared, Brian, Bill, Lisa, Chelsea, Lily, Nick (Maria), Casey, Robert (Mariah), Clare, Megan, Delaney, Alec, and Melanie; one great-niece, Tori, and three great-nephews: Isaiah, Levi and Axel.

Laura was preceded in death by both parents, both her father and mother-in-law, Harold and Beverly Rettke, and her beloved Yorkies, Hogan and Cady. The family is indebted to the staff at UW Hospital, Floor B6/6, for their exceptional care of Laura and her family.

A memorial gathering is planned from 1-3:00 pm on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at Cress SUN PRAIRIE where friends and family will share their stories and memories of Laura.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to: Ursaline Sisters Retirement Fund, 353 South Sappington Road, St. Louis, MO 63122, www.osucentral.org or UW Foundation, Head and Neck Cancer Research, U.S. Bank Lockbox Box 78807, Milwaukee, WI 53278-8807 www.supportuw.org. 

Cress Funeral Service

1310 Emerald Terrace, Sun Prairie, WI 53590

608-837-9054