December 8, 1930 ~
September 13, 2022
A Message from Alan Reitz:
"I wanted to notify you of the passing of a former pastor of American Lutheran Church Reverend Otto John Reitz born 12/08/1930 in Fairfield Washington died and went on to his heavenly home on 9/13/2022 at the Benedictine Memory Unit Northfield, MN. He was preceded in death by his father Otto W. Reitz and mother Helene Reitz (Wittrock), sister Elisabeth, brothers Gerhard, Robert, Armin, Theodore and Marcus. His living siblings are sisters Marie and Rosaline and brothers Joseph, and Karl. He grew up in the Pacific Northwest and attended Pacific Lutheran College and subsequently Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque IA where he received a Masters of Divinity. During his pastoral internship year in Toledo, Ohio he met the love of his life LaVerne D. Lawrence and they were married on June 3, 1956. He served as a Lutheran Pastor at Faith Lutheran Shell Rock, IA, Messiah Lutheran Janesville, IA, Bethel Lutheran Graettinger, IA, St. Peter’s Lutheran Greene, IA, American Lutheran LaPorte City, IA, interim pastor at Grace Lutheran Nerstrand, MN and Gol Lutheran Kenyan, MN. Otto is survived by his wife LaVerne of 66 years, and sons David, Vernon, Alan (Heidi) and Lowell. His grandchildren include Jacob, Michael, Lucas, Drew, Lucy, Juliana, Hannah, Clara and Jessa. Great grandchildren are Annika and Hendrik. He is survived by many nieces and nephews. Otto was a voracious reader and he loved nature which drew him to hiking, camping, backpacking, canoeing and biking. Visitation will be held 4-6 P.M. 9/19/2022 at Benson and Langehough Funeral Home 201 East 4th Street Northfield, MN. Funeral services will be held 9/20/2022 at 11:00 A.M., visitation 10:00 A.M. at St. John’s Lutheran Church Northfield, MN. Family remembers with gratitude the loving care at the end of life by staff of Benedictine Memory Care Unit and St. Croix Hospice. In lieu of flowers family suggests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association, St. John’s Lutheran Church music fund or Nature Conservancy. Soli Deo Gloria"
Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home. www.northfieldfuneral.com
