Tony Reiter, husband, father, grandfather passed away peacefully on April 21, 2025. Predeceased by Anna Marie, his wife of 60 years. Survived by his seven children: Anne Dege, Joe (Barb), Mary Jo Warner (Phil Hollermann), Tom (Sharon Miyamoto), Theresa (Tim Frye), Rob (Wannaporn Tansatit), Jim (Cathy), 12 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.
Tony was born on May 2, 1926 in St. Paul, MN, the last surviving of the seven children of Maximilian Reiter and Aloysia (Louise) Reiter.
Tony attended Mechanic Arts High School. He learned early on the value of hard work, devotion to family, friends and faith. At age 3 Tony’s father was killed by a drunk driver on New Year’s Day which set the stage for a life of serial entrepreneurship to help the family: selling buckets of coal door-to-door to his neighbors in the Rondo neighborhood, simultaneous paper routes, dish washer, car salesman, scrap metal dealer, bar and liquor store owner and later on, a civil servant.
Tony eagerly joined the Navy in 1944 at age 17. He served as a Seaman S2 aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia battleship participating in some of the fiercest WWII naval battles in the Pacific Theater including the Battle of Surigao Strait, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. For many decades Tony attended his ship’s reunions and just may be the ship’s “last man standing.”
After the war Tony and Anna settled in St. Paul to raise their family. He insisted their 7 children attend the local Catholic schools and instilled his value of family first.
Tony was actively involved in St. Paul politics during the 1950s and ’60s. He ran for City Council on the prescient platform to “rid our streets of destructive salt“ and lost. But with politics in his blood Tony involved himself in managing many successful political campaigns including City Council, Mayoral, Judgeship, State and Federal Congressional and Senate races. Prior to his retirement Tony held the position of Ramsey County Land Commissioner.
Tony and Anna traveled extensively including trips to Europe and throughout the United States and Mexico.
Never one to miss a happy hour Tony enjoyed the beer warm and the pickled herring cold. When Anna fell victim to dementia Tony was her devoted caregiver until she passed in 2003. Thereafter Tony became an accomplished and passionate ballroom dancer through which he developed many long-term friendships including his special partner Lucille Grosinger.
Tony was a man of deep faith, a devout Catholic. As a long term member of St. Agnes parish, Tony regularly attended Sunday Latin High Mass, monthly Novenas and meetings of the Church Men’s Group, St. Peter and Clemens and Holy Name Societies.
Visitation will be on Monday, May 5, 2025 from 5:00-7:00pm at Willwerscheid Funeral Home, 1167 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Church of St. Agnes, 535 Thomas Ave., St. Paul, MN at 10:00am on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, followed by lunch in Schuler Hall. Interment will be at Fort Snelling Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Church of St. Agnes.