The Immaculate Conception Chatholic Church in Rushville was filled to overflowing yesterday morning for the funeral of 18-year old Jesse Retzlaff….killed a little before 6:00 Sunday morning in a traffic accident southeast of Norfolk.

Retzlaff had graduated from Gordon-Rushville High School in May, and the funeral brought back a large number of his classmates even though the service was on a weekday.

The Holt County Sheriff’s Department says Retzlaff was eastbound on Highway 20 near its junction with Highway 275 when his car crossed the center line and into the path of semi driven by 34-year old Ron Schrieber Jr of Gordon.

Retzlaff’s car hit the driver’s side of the truck’s tractor and trailer, then rolled into the south ditch. He was ejected and died at the scene. Schreiber was unhurt, but the accident remains under investigation.

Retzlaff was living in the Norfolk area while attending Northeastern Community College for its electrical construction program.

Friends say he had attended a wedding and reception Saturday night, but declined an offer of a room for the night, saying he had commitments on Sunday.