Kenneth Redetzke Obituary Kenneth E. Redetzke, 71, of Burnsville and Longville, Minnesota and Destin, Florida, died on Saturday, May 26 in his home in Florida after a 9 month battle with kidney cancer. Ken was born on May 2, 1941, in Claflin, Kansas, the eldest son of Vernon Redetzke and Susanna Lang Redetzke. Ken received his undergraduate degree from Kansas State University (KSU) in 1963 with a degree in Agricultural Economics, played varsity baseball for KSU and was president of the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity. Ken received his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota in 1973. On December 29, 1964, Ken married his college sweetheart, Susan Nelson Redetzke. Following graduation from KSU, Ken pursued his love of aviation, joined the United States Navy and was based in Beeville, Texas. A Navy fighter pilot who flew the F-9 and F-11, Ken rose to the ranks of Lieutenant before joining Northwest Orient Airlines as a pilot on February 3, 1969. Ken enjoyed a distinguished 32-year career with Northwest as a pilot, flight instructor and an executive. Throughout his career, Ken held the positions of Fleet Captain for Northwests 727 fleet, the DC-10 fleet and the 757/747-400 fleets before dedicating the latter part of his career to the leadership of Northwests Flight Operations function, helping to standardize Northwests operations across all fleets. He retired from Northwest Airlines as Managing Director, Flight Operations, on May 2, 2001. He then joined Champion Air in August of 2005 as Vice President, Operations, and again retired in 2007. Ken had a lifelong love of sports -- baseball, football, golf and a great love for the outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and above all, he was a mentor. With love and patience, he taught his grandchildren to golf, swim, fish, water ski, drive a boat/golf cart/car, snowmobile and four-wheel and he taught the girls how to dance. A man of strong faith and belief in the Lord, Ken was a member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the St. Edwards Catholic Church in Longville, MN. Ken is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sue and three children: Danielle Halstrom of Gwynedd Valley, PA; Kristen Gulson of Sioux Falls, SD; and Mark and Emily Redetzke of Deephaven, MN. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Kirsten, Annika and Lena Halstrom; Dylan Gulson; and Josie and Giselle Redetzke. Ken is also survived by his siblings Darlene Buehler, Joe Redetzke and Marlyn Redetzke. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Sacred Heart Cancer Center, 7720 US Hwy 98 West, Suite 140, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 or Emerald Coast Hospice, 419 Racetrack Road NW, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548. Mass of Christian Burial 11 AM Monday, June 4, 2012 at the Church of St. Therese of Deephaven, 18323 Minnetonka Blvd., Deephaven with visitation beginning at 9:30 AM. Interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery.