Anthony John Reiter

REITER
Anthony J
Age 98 of St Paul
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 1950's and 60's. 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 travelled 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.