Rev. William Reitmeier

The Rev. William Reitmeier, 96, Lincoln, died Friday (2/13/04) at his home. He had suffered from cancer for the past year. Born March 1, 1907, Mr. Reitmeier was raised on a farm near Spokane, Wash. He attended a one-room school through the eighth grade, then finished high school by correspondence. He attended college in Philomath, Ore., and York, receiving his bachelor's degree from York. He graduated from the United Brethren theological seminary, Dayton, Ohio, and was ordained in 1933. During a year of post-graduate study at Columbia University in New York City, he worked with immigrant youths in a settlement house in Manhattan.

He began his formal ministry in Spokane in 1934. He married Margaret Betten, a school teacher, in 1941 and they raised two daughters. He served parishes in Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, and Iowa. He completed his ministry in Nebraska at the Fairmont Federated Church, followed by the United Church of Christ in Scribner and Uehling, before retiring in 1975.

The Rev. Reitmeier remained active in retirement as "pastor emeritus" of the Scribner church and conducting services in Pierce and Neligh. From 1979 to 1982 he served a volunteer pastorate in Mazatlan, Mexico, and in 1984 traveled with the Witness for Peace organization to Nicaragua. He also carried out a prison ministry, corresponding with numerous prisoners in Nebraska and elsewhere.

After the death of his wife, Margaret, in 1996, the Rev. Reitmeier moved to Lincoln where he joined the Northeast United Church of Christ and was active with Amnesty International, Nebraskans for Peace and other organizations. In May 2003 he was honored by the Nebraska Conference of the United Church of Christ for the 70th anniversary of his ordination.

Survivors: daughters, Wendy Reitmeier of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Sarah Catton-Isaacs of Flagstaff, Ariz.

Memorial service: 11 a.m. Friday, Northeast United Church of Christ.