Eileen Fitzenreiter

NAPOLEON - Eileen Anne Fitzenreiter, 72, of rural Napoleon, Ohio, met the Lord she loved on Saturday September 10, 2022, after a two-year battle with cancer.

Eileen was born in Hudson, Michigan, on July 5, 1950, to Berl and Mary Anne (Smith) Clough. She is survived by Karleen (Paul) Sternisha and was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Connie (stillborn). Also surviving are her husband of 52 years, Thomas Fitzenreiter, children, Heather and Toby (Jill) Fitzenreiter, grandchildren, Emma St. Clair, William Fitzenreiter, Henry Fitzenreiter and Eve Fitzenreiter; siblings-in-law, MaryAnn (Rod) Creager, William "Bill" (Jennifer) Fitzenreiter; nieces, Jennifer (Jason) Seiler, Lindy Baldwin and Whitney (Baldo) Fitzenreiter-Quintanilla; nephews, Cole (Libby) Fitzenreiter and Andrew (LeAnne) Sternisha; and multiple grand nieces and nephews. Eileen's love of family was second only to her love of Christ.

Growing up on a farm in rural Fayette, Ohio, Eileen often reminisced about her happy childhood and how her faith in Christ, which shaped her and created the love that she never was afraid to show others, began at the Fayette Church of God. After graduating from Fayette High School in 1968, she left to study pharmacy at Ohio Northern University. While there, she met Thomas (Tom) Fitzenreiter on a blind date and she said she knew he was the one the day she met him. They were married at Fayette Church of God on August 8, 1970. Tom and Eileen moved to Liberty Center and so began their life here in a community they both love and support.

Eileen and Tom worked at The Community Bank together until Tom realized that desks were not his calling. Eileen went on to a 30-year career in an unpredictable industry where she quipped, "we could be bought and sold 10 times but never leave the building." She loved the ability to "help people realize their dreams and make plans to get there". As a strong female leader her commitment to the principle of servant leadership so Eileen invested her time and talents to the Napoleon Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Henry County, the Center for Child and Family Advocacy to name a few. Her love for God was the driving force for all things, and after having served on various boards and committees at St. Paul Lutheran Church Napoleon, she began a second career as a gift planner for the LCMS Foundation in 2007 until she retired on July 31. Eileen referred to this as her calling and her life in banking had led her to this work. She took great pleasure in helping other Christians advance the Church's mission.

Eileen's family was the heartbeat of her life. She was exceptional at planning and creating a happy, positive, loving space to celebrate the good and less than great moments of life with those she loved. Baking and putting up seasonal decorations with her grandkids (and whoever wanted to join the fun) was a joy for all involved. Eileen always listened and made everyone feel as though she was present with an open heart in the best and worst of times. She loved God, family, fun, laughter and joy. Buzzie's heart will live on in all of her family and the "friends who have become family" whom she and Tom deeply treasure.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 16 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Napoleon, Ohio. Interment will be held at a later date at Morrison Cemetery, Liberty Center, Ohio.

A memorial gathering will be held on Thursday from 3-7 p.m. at Rodenberger-Gray Funeral Home and Friday from 10-11 a.m. at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Henry County United Way, or ProMedica Hospice.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.rodenbergergray.com