REITER: Melvin Francis
听
June 26, 1926 - March 14, 2015
听
The passing of Melvin Reiter of Humboldt, SK, occurred at St. Mary鈥檚 Villa, Humboldt, on Saturday, March 14, 2015, at the age of 88 years. Melvin was born on June 26, 1926, in Winnipeg, MB, and at the age of four, was taken to an orphanage in Regina, SK. On March 17, 1931, at the age of five, a move was made to Annaheim, SK, where he was adopted by Wenzel and Clara (nee Ebert) Reiter. Melvin attended Schuler School completing grade 8, and while in school he was the pitcher for the Schuler baseball team. An injury early in his teens prevented him from participating in sports but he still refereed hockey for a few years. He was a sports enthusiast all his life. On November 15, 1955, Melvin married Marcella Kunz at Annaheim and they were blessed with two daughters, Sherry and Brenda. They resided on his father鈥檚 1904 homestead and operated a mixed farm of grain, dairy cattle, hogs and chickens. In 1963 they purchased the Ray Willems farm to expand their farming operation. Disaster struck the farm in 1971, but they managed to rebuild and kept on going. Besides farming, Melvin worked with the Humboldt School Unit and drove school bus for ten years. He served as secretary on several committees such as the Annaheim Wheat Pool, Schuler Snow Plow Club and Seniors Club. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Annaheim Male Choir and served on the board of directors of the Annaheim arena association and St. Elizabeth鈥榮 Hospital Foundation. When Marcella became ill, Melvin became her main caregiver until her passing in 1985. In the late 1980鈥檚, Melvin rented out the farm and began working with Hail Insurance in sales and adjusting, keeping him involved with the aspects of farming. In 2004, he received the Century Family Farm Award. He was an active seniors bowler and won numerous trophies as well as a provincial silver medal in 1994. On March 17, 2007, he retired and moved into Humboldt, 76 years to the day he moved onto the farm. In 2014, he became a resident of St. Mary鈥檚 Villa, his home until the present. While being semi-retired, Melvin was a strong supporter of his grandchildren鈥檚 and great-grandchildren鈥檚 academic and sporting events. His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were always his pride and joy and said 鈥渉is great-grandchildren made his last years worth it鈥�.听 Melvin is survived by his two daughters, Sherry (Ed) Vedress and Brenda Reiter; four grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren: Tracy (Linsey) Smith and family, Dakota, Dylan, Barrett and Brock; Jody (Nicole) Vedress and family, Rhett, Colton and Kiersten; Lindsay (Mike) Schommer and family, Dayne, Abby and Kya; Kim (Chris) Griffith and family, Reid, Emmy and Jersey; sister, Doreen Herrick; in-laws, Ted and Bernarda Kunz, Wilfred Kunz, Celestine Kunz and Kathy Kunz; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Marcella (nee Kunz) Reiter (1985); parents, Wenzel and Clara (nee Ebert) Reiter; sister, Marion (Bernard) Schultz; brother, Allan Reiter; brothers-in-law, Steve Herrick, Norbert Kunz and Alois Kunz; and sister-in-law, Irene Kunz. The Funeral Mass for Melvin was offered at St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church, on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. concelebrated by Fr. Ephraim Mensah and Fr. Rudolph Novecosky, OSB. Other participants were Lindsay Schommer, crossbearer; Jody Vedress, urnbearer; Tracy Smith and Cindy Polreis, scriptures; Kim and Chris Griffith, intentions; great-grandchildren, giftbearers; Patricia Kunz and Wayne Kunz, memorial table attendants. Music ministry was provided by the St. Augustine Parish Funeral Choir. Honorary pallbearers were 鈥渁ll those who shared in Melvin鈥檚 life鈥�. Interment will take place at St. Ann鈥檚 Roman Catholic Cemetery, Annaheim, SK, at a later date. Memorial donations may be directed to the St. Mary鈥檚 Villa Foundation or Humboldt District Hospital Foundation General Equipment Fund. Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel, Humboldt, SK.
