Richard Reiter

Richard W. Reiter passed away at his McFarland Home after a battle with a few health issues, but not the Covid-19, with his family surrounding him.

Richard was known to all of us as “Paw” or Dicky.  We describe him as a very giving, positive person.  He always thought that someone else needed more than him, always helping others.

He was born in Chicago, IL and moved to McFarland in 1944 where he spent the rest of his life.  He graduated from Madison East High School in 1950.  In 1951 he married his school sweetheart Constance Jaeger.  He worked at the McFarland Dairy which his father William bought in 1944.  He joined the Army National Guard and was in the 32nd Division serving 12 years.  He joined the McFarland Fire Rescue Department in 1955 and was still a member at the time of his passing, a total of 64 years, many of them as an Assistant Chief.   He worked at Maple Bluff Fire Department from 1969 to 1995.  He was the Fire Chief of Maple Bluff for 25 years.  He was also a fire instructor for MATC (Madison College) for many years and taught multiple students firefighting skills.  In 1995 he traveled to Mexico with close friends and spent the next 25 years providing used firefighting equipment that was collected from Fire Departments and they provided training to the firefighters in the State of Chiapas, City of San Cristobal where he developed many lifelong friends that have honored his life in the highest.

Richard is survived by his 2 sons, Tom and Jerry and their families: Thomas (Terri) Reiter and their children, Paw's grandchildren, Gretta (Ben) Walhovd, Jeffrey (Nikki) Reiter, Nicholas Martinelli-Reiter & his friend Ashley and Paw's 5 great-grandchildren, Calvin & Aubrey Walhovd and Owen, William, & Jackson Reiter; and son, Jerry (Dawn) Reiter and their children, Paw's grandchildren, Brandon (Nicole) Reiter, James (Amy) Reiter, Joey (Melisa) Arndt and David (Carmen) Arndt and Paw's 5 great-grandchildren, Olivia & Lilly Arndt, Emma & Bella Reiter, Noah Reiter.

Richard "Paw" was preceded in death by his wife Constance Reiter; his parents, William and Katherine; and grandparents, Herman and Emilia Reiter and Tammy Reiter.

Paw was admired and honored by so many people.  He accepted everyone he met and his rewards will be a gift in heaven.

Services for Richard "Paw" will take place on Saturday, August 21, 2021.  There will be an Emergency Vehicle escort starting at the McFarland Fire Department at 2pm, heading North on Milwaukee, turning right to Broadhead, turning right on Holscher, turning right on Elvehjem, continuing to Creamery/Bashford/Farwell, turning left on Burma Road, and then parking in the McFarland High School parking lot.  A celebration of life service will be held at 3pm at the McFarland American Legion Post 534, with Military honors performed by the Madison Area Veterans Firing Squad, including the Dane Co. EMS honor guard, and Pipes and Drums.  Food and beverages will be served.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Agrace HospiceCare of Fitchburg.

Please share your memories of Richard "Paw" by posting on his Tribute Wall.

Cress Funeral Services

5801 Highway 51, McFarland

(608) 838-0655