Obituary/Traueranzeige Reitzug aus Mehlsack

Nikolaus H. Reitzug, 83, died Saturday, February 3, 2007. He was born July 21, 1923, in what was then Mehlsack, East Prussia, Germany. He married his long-time sweetheart Elisabeth Klaffke in January 1945. Just days later, they fled their homeland under cover of a blizzard. During the flight, Mr.Reitzug saved many lives when he led a caravan of the wounded across the frozen Baltic Sea. After the war, his family lived in Osnabrueck, (West) Germany, until their move to Fort Wayne in 1956. Mr. Reitzug's talents and passions quickly became evident to the community. During his career as an architect (member of the AIA), he was noted for his integrity and commitment to excellence. At St. Jude Parish he was active in numerous ministries. But Mr. Reitzug's greatest joy was his growing family. His children fondly recall his accented cheers and unabashed support at their sporting events. On memorable trips to many national parks, he shared his love of the country's natural beauty with his family. His retirement was devoted to visiting his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. This past summer, 55 family members from as far away as Italy and Alaska gathered in the Colorado Rockies to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the family's arrival in the US and what would be Mr. Reitzug's final birthday. One evening at this reunion, while surrounded by his family, Mr. Reitzugsummed up his life and said: "I have been blessed." In addition to his wife, Mr. Reitzug's survivors include his sons, Henry of Graham, WA; Ulrich of Greensboro, NC; Mathias of Tacoma, WA; and Christopher of Fishers, IN; his daughters, Monika Leonard of Wayland, MA; Angelika Day of Littleton, CO; Maria Wolfe of Los Alamos, NM; and Marcella Andrade of Carmel, IN; their spouses, 23 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Mr. Reitzug is preceded in death by his daughter Esther and brothers Heinz and Leo. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 & 7 to 9 pm Friday at D.O. McComb & Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home, 1140 Lake Avenue, with a Vigil at 4:30pm. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Jude Catholic Church, 2130 Pemberton Dr., with visitation at the church one hour prior to the funeral. The family wishes to express their gratitude to the Hospice nurses and nighttime attendants who cared for Mr. Reitzug with gentleness and compassion during his final weeks. Preferred memorials are to St. Jude: Church, School, Social Action; to Bishop Dwenger High School; or to Parkview Hospice.