Herbert "Herb" A. Reitzel, age 88, passed away on Thursday, August 9, 2012 surrounded by his loving wife and family. He is going to heaven to meet his maker and God broke the mold when he made Herb. His life was blessed and he always had a guardian angel that watched over him throughout his life. He was one of eleven children and grew up in South Dakota during the dust bowl and the depression. He left home at age 14 to earn money for his family. He grew up tough and strong and worked on farms until he joined the US Navy to fight in the Pacific during WWII. He was a Seabee (US Navy Construction Battalion) and fought in Tinian, Saipan and the South Pacific. He was a proud member of the Fearless 50, a special unit of US Marines and Sailors during the war. After that he was one of the best heavy equipment operators in Northeast Ohio and a member of the Operating Engineers Union. He opened Medina Lanes in 1962 and managed it until 1978. He then owned AAA Insulation and managed it until he went into semi-retirement in 1980 when he would rototill gardens for many people in Ohio. He retired and maintained homes in both Medina, Ohio and in Bonita Springs, Florida. He was a very successful businessman and an extremely astute investor. He has left behind a powerful reminder of his ability to succeed.
Herb had many awards from bowling including a number of perfect games. He is a charter member of the Medina Bowling Hall of Fame. In addition to managing Medina Lanes, he served as an executive consultant to Brunswick Corporation.
Herb met Kay Landis in Florida while they were dancing and he fell deeply in love with her. He liked to say he was blessed by God to have 2 wonderful women in his life and 2 awesome wives. Both women were proud and pleased to be his wife.
He was the beloved husband of Katherine "Kay" Landis-Reitzel to whom he was married 10 years; loving father of Michael Reitzel, Rick (Kim) Reitzel and Wendy (Randy) Reynolds; devoted grandfather of Ellen (Wes) Lacy, Robin (Sam) Moore, Tara and Rachelle Reitzel, Brooke, Bryce and Chad Reynolds, and Jeremy Reitzel; great-grandfather of Bridget and Brennan Lacy; Ruby Moore; step-father of Michael and Charles Landis; step-grandfather of Nathaniel, Olivia, Madeline, Andrea and Nicholas Landis; dear brother of Dolores (Richard) Schooley, Bertha Shoop and Gladys Curtis; also uncle to many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his first wife Barbara Ellen (Hall) Reitzel to whom he was married 53 years; sisters Margaret, Mary and Alice; and brothers Wilbur, Ernest, Kenneth and Henry.
Services will be held Monday, August 13 at 11:00 A.M. at the Waite & Son Funeral Home, 765 N. Court St., Medina. Dan Pangallo will officiate. Burial will take place at Spring Grove Cemetery. Family will receive friends Sunday 2-5:00 P.M. at the funeral home.