Donald Emery Kretzinger was born in Oakwood, Ohio on May 27, 1908, the son of Wilford V. and Lucy S. McCullough, Kretzinger. He received his elementary and high school education in the schools of Oakwood, Ohio. He also attended St. Mary’s Business School in Defiance, Ohio and Davis Business College in Toledo, Ohio.
He was employed by the Premier Radio Corporation and the Toledo Edison Company in Defiance. He moved to Toledo where he was employed as Assistant Superintendent with the Lion Dry Goods Company, Credit Manager of the B. R. Baker Company and Assistant to the personnel Director of the Electric Auto Lite Company. He was elected Secretary of Scottish Rite on May 23, 1952, which position he held until May 1973.
On July 27, 1940, he was united in marriage with Arline Catherine Neis, who preceded him in death on 3 June 1981. They were the parents of one son.
He was a member of the Toledo Club, Heatherdowns Country Club and the Old Newsboys Goodfellow Association.
He was raised in Omega Lodge No. 564, Defiance, Ohio on October 8, 1930, he dimitted to Pyramid Lodge No. 701, Toledo, Ohio on October 16, 1941 and served as Worshipful Master of Pyramid Lodge in 1948-49.
Exalted in Ensawocsa Chapter No. 89, R. A. M. Defiance, Ohio, May 14, 1931. Received in Toledo Council No. 33, R. S. M. Toledo, Ohio, April 20, 1946. Knighted in Toledo Commandery No.7, K. T. Toledo, Ohio, October 12, 1946.
Received Degrees in Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio – September 26, October 10 and 11, 1946. Crowned an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council, 33-Degree Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 26, 1956. He became a Noble of Zenobia Shrine, A. A. O. N. M. S., in 1952. He was accepted into the Royal Order of Jesters Ct. No. 21 in 1952. Royal Order of Scotland in 1958. St. Thomas Conclave, No. 79, Order of the Red Cross of Constantine, Toledo, Ohio, 1966.
Past Secretary of the Eleventh Masonic District Association. Past Secretary of the Past Masters’ Association. Secretary of Heatherdowns Masonic Realty Incorporated. Secretary, Manager and Director of the Toledo Masonic Building Company. Director of the Otis Browning Masonic Memorial Fund. Member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Building Committee. He was an Honorary Prophet in O-Ton-Ta-La Grotto, M. O. V. P. E. R., 1963 and received the DeMolay Honorary Legion of Honor on August 14, 1965.
In October of 1959 he was appointed by Charles K. Cunningham, Most Worshipful Grand Master, to serve as District Deputy Grand Master for the Eleventh Masonic District of Ohio.
Brother Charles H. Strayer, Most Worshipful Grand Master, appointed him Junior Grand Deacon in October of 1960. He subsequently served in the various appointive and elective stations in the Grand Lodge of Ohio line until elected and installed as Grand Master in October of 1967, in Columbus, Ohio.
M. W. Brother Kretzinger was instrumental during 1967 in raising the necessary funds to erect and furnish the beautiful new chapel at the Ohio Masonic Home in Springfield.
He had been in failing health for several months. Death came to him in Toledo on Saturday 19 September 1981. Masonic services were held by Pyramid Lodge on September 21, 1981 with funeral services on September 22, 1981 and interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Toledo, Ohio.