Merle K. Kretzer Sr., 93, of Renfrew, formerly of Richland and Hampton townships, died Saturday in LAS/St. John Specialty Care Center, Mars.

Born in Gibsonia, April 10, 1913, he was the son of John and Mabel Herr Kretzer.

He had been a truck driver for 44 years and had worked at Huggins and Riddle in Tarentum and the Blawnox Co. and the Moore and Flesher Hauling Co. on the North Side, Etna and Cranberry Township. He was a 35-year member of Teamsters Local 249.

Surviving are son, Merle Kretzer II and his wife, Sandy, of Prospect; a daughter, Karen Peterman and her husband, John, with whom he made his home; and grandchildren, Kimberly Gold, John H. Jr. and Bryan S. Peterman, Mark R. and Matthew G. Kretzer and Melissa M. Wolf; and 14 great-grandchildren.

His wife, Catherine W. Criswell Kretzer, whom he married Nov. 3, 1934, died Oct. 8, 1988. He also was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Maura Kretzer; a brother Roland Kretzer; and two sisters, Hazel Schmidt and Florence Hardt.

<B>KRETZER </B>— Friends of Merle K. Kretzer Sr., who died Saturday, Oct. 28, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the <B>MCDONALD-AEBERLI FUNERAL HOME</B>, 238 Crowe Ave., Mars. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Gary Weston, pastor of Valencia Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be at the Mars Cemetery, Adams Township.Memorial donations may be made to the Valencia Presbyterian Church, 80 Sterrett St., Valencia, PA 16059.