Emmett Lester Rettagliata

Emmett Lester Rettagliata, age 83, of Sutter Creek, CA, passed away peacefully Friday, December 27, 2019 in Jackson. Emmett was born in Amador City, CA on June 27, 1936. He was the youngest of seven children born to Carrie (Leonardini) and John Rettagliata, who preceded him. Emmett is survived by his wife, Ida of Sutter Creek, CA; daughters, Leslie (Bobby) Rettagliata-Ford, of Lucedale, MS and Terri Barry, of San Andreas, CA; sons, Chris (Joe) Gannon-Silva, of Sutter Creek, CA and Daniel (Dawn) Rettagliata, of Sheboygan, WI; sisters, Millie Levratto, of Mt. View, CA, Elsie Hogg, of Sutter Creek, CA, Flora Billigmeier, of Sutter Creek, CA, and Irma (Ambrose) Brusatori, of Sutter Creek, CA; brother, Don (Sandi) Rettagliata, of Sutter Creek, CA; grandchildren, Sebrina (Greg) Eden, Carrina Murrah, Michael Baker and Christopher Baker; eleven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded by his brother, John Rettagliata; and by his brother-in-laws. Emmett attended grade school in Amador City and graduated from Amador High School in 1955. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft weapons mechanic and served at Osan Air Base in the Republic of Korea achieving the rank of Airman Second Class. He was honorably discharged in 1958. Emmett was employed at a lumber company in the Martell area until 1960 when he began work at Aerojet General Corp. in Sacramento until 1965. He then began his career in law enforcement, working at the city of Sutter Creek as a police officer. In 1967, he was hired as a deputy for the Amador County Sheriff’s Office and was promoted to sergeant, then jail commander for 22 years. He retired in October of 1995. Emmett became restless and in 1996 he was the gate keeper and cashier at Amador Disposal in Ione until 2003. Emmett enjoyed the outdoors, deer hunting, fishing, stamp collecting, wood working, landscaping, and cutting fire wood. He was an avid 49ers fan and never missed a game. Friends and family are invited to attend a visitation on Monday January 6, 2020, from 4 to 7:00 PM and a funeral service on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, 11:00 AM at Daneri Mortuary in Jackson. Interment will be at the Sutter Creek Catholic Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to either the American Lung Association, 909 12th St., Sacramento, CA 95814, or American Heart Association, 1212 W. Robinhood Dr. Ste. 5D, Stockton, CA 95207.