Lt. Colonel (ret.) John Thomas “J.T.” Rethke

May 14, 1951 - December, 8 2023

Lieutenant colonel (ret.) John Thomas “J.T.” Rethke, a pilot, engineer, and author passed away Friday, December, 8 2023 in a single-car accident on Highway 50 near Kyburz, California while returning to his home in Monterey. The coroner ruled the death as a result of a heart attack. He was 72.

Born in Milbank, South Dakota, J.T. was the oldest of Quentin and Iva Rethke. At an early age he developed a life-long fascination and love of aviation as he looked up over his family farm and saw the contrails of the huge B-52 Stratofortress bombers overhead.

He graduated from Milbank High School in 1969 and attended South Dakota State University on one of the first Air Force R.O.T.C. Scholarships. He graduated in 1973 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

He became an Air force Instructor Pilot in the Lockheed C-130 and received two special qualifications in Low Altitude Parachute Delivery Systems (LAPES) and Primary Nuclear Airlift Force (PNAF). His assignments took him around the world including Typhoon Chasing and Search and Rescue missions out of Anderson Air Force Base in Guam, and in 1979 he assisted in the rescue of hundreds of Americans and other allies during the Iranian revolution. Later, in the Air Force Reserve, he spent time with Lockheed TR1 (U-2) pilots in Korea and enjoyed the opportunity to fly the SR-71 Blackbird simulator at the NASA Dryden Flight Center at Edwards ARB, and was an Air Force Intelligence officer. In civilian life, he had the unique opportunity to try out for a Reno Race pilot slot flying the race-modified unlimited class P-51 Mustang "Miss America.”

In 1982 J.T. worked for Basic American Foods in King City and in 1991 he completed his MBA at Golden Gate University in Monterey. He worked for 20 years at Basic until they closed operations. In 1997 he started his own specialized flying business, CLOUD 9 Flight Services. Jobs after that included time with King City Glass, Mesa Del Rey airport in King City and finally as an engineer for the Pebble Beach Community Services Department from which he retired in 2014.

Never one to sit idle, J.T. was a member of the Central Coast Writers Club, the Pebble Beach Car Club, the Monterey Ski and Social Club, and the Butterfly Church in Pacific Grove. He was also an avid hiker and served as president of his homeowners association. He was a proud "Angel" supporter of Youth Music Monterey.

He owned a Vashion RANGER LSA (Light Sport Airplane and loved to display his 2021 Abarth Spider during an event at Car Week on the Monterey Peninsula. In 2023 he received a U.S. Patent for a device to be used as a training aid for aerobatic pilots.

In 2015 J.T, started writing a memoir about his 1972 summer adventure working for the Fairbanks Air Service in Alaska. It is scheduled to be published by Spark Press in 2024.

J.T. is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Patricia, his brother Thomas, and his partner Lynn Randall. He is survived by his sister, Mary kay Rethke of Sparta, Missouri, his brother-in-law Rick Loudenback of Peoria, Arizona, his close friend and contributing editor, Mavourneen Nolte of King City, his step-son Scott Randall of Silver Lake, California, his co-pilot Steven Bogert of Glenwood, Iowa, as well as two nephews and three grand nieces.

In a description in his book, J.T, concluded with this message: "His journey begins as an invincible 21-year-old and ends knowing he is definitely not invincible and should appreciate every day of his life."

Just as he strove to appreciate each day, friends are invited to gather to remember his life on April 27, 2024 at the Butterfly Church, 915 Sunset Dr. Pacific Grove, California beginning at 11am.

Donations in his honor can be made to Youth Music Monterey County 546 Hartnell St #B, Monterey, Ca. 93940, or the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ollie.csumb.edu/donate/