John F. Jack Reiter, Sr.

John F. ""Jack"" Reiter, Sr. peacefully departed this world on January 12, 2016, just 32 days short of his 97th birthday. He was born on February 14, 1919 in Crary, North Dakota the oldest of four children born to B.A. and Josephine Reiter. He attended St. Johns University in Collegeville, Minnesota before pursuing his career in optics. A member of the Greatest Generation, Jack was working in Los Angeles when Pearl Harbor was attacked. After two attempts to join the war effort, he was sternly informed that his skills were needed to continue making optics in support of his country.

He returned to Minnesota in 1945 to continue his optical career with Bausch and Lomb. While attending Mass in Austin, Minnesota, he met his future wife Bernadine. They were married on November 11, 1946 at St. Augustine Church in Austin and began a wonderful life together. Their 61 year marriage ended in 2008 with the death of his wife and soul mate Bernadine.

In 1952 Jack was given the opportunity to open a new branch for his company in Houston, Texas and moved his young family to Bellaire, Texas. In 1956 Dr. Chauncey Dolph convinced Jack to move to Baytown, Texas where he established John F. Reiter Optician which has now been operating as a family business for 60 years.

Bernadine and Jack were longtime active members of Baytown's St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Dayton, and the Serra Club of East Harris County. He was also the president of the East Harris County St. Vincent dePaul Society for 50 years.

He was preceded in death by his wife Bernadine and his sister Mary Jo Reiter. Surviving to carry on his memory are his son, Barry Reiter and wife, Becky, of Clarcona, FL, his son John Reiter, Jr. and wife, Kristi, of Baytown, TX, his son Philip Reiter and wife, Lori, of Salt Lake City, UT; his daughter, Mary Elizabeth ""Bitsi"" Rose and husband, Andy, of Baytown, TX, his daughter Virginia ""Ginger"" Ann Panter of Conroe, TX, his daughter Margaret ""Margi"" Jane Hall and husband, Frank, of Conroe, TX, and Bernadette Perryman and husband Scotty of Tyler, TX; his brothers, Bert Reiter of Salt Lake City, UT and Joe Reiter of Phoenix, AZ, his brother-in-law Olin Martin, of West Lafayette, IN, his brother-in-law Vernon Barry of Austin, MN, and his best friend in Florida, Robert Gormican, of Clarcona, FL, as well as 21 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great granddaughter.

His family will receive friends at Navarre Funeral Home Monday beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a rosary to follow at 7:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be Tuesday, January 26, 2016, at 12 noon at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1907 Carolina St., Baytown, TX 77520 with burial to follow at Magnolia Park Cemetery in Dayton.

His Texas grandsons Chris Hall, Jay Reiter, Lucas Hall, Keith Hall, Marcus Rose, and Eric Wirfel of Oakley, California will honor his memory by acting as pall bearers.

To view the online obituary or to post a tribute for the family, go to www.navarrefuneralhome.com

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX, 77521 (281) 422-8111.