Rev. Gerald 'Jerry' Robert Reiter

Obituary Rev. Gerald "Jerry" Reiter, Emeritus, 89, of Marquette MI and Beaufort NC passed away on Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at Carteret Health Care in Morehead City NC. A link to the recording of the North Carolina service can be found at the bottom of this obituary - as well a second link for the Memorial Folder. Jerry was born in Chicago IL and grew up in Marquette MI. Growing up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Jerry spent his free time hunting, fishing, and hiking in the woods and enjoying the beauty that surrounded him. This led to a natural draw to Wildlife Management, in which he earned his Bachelors Degree from Michigan State University. He married Carol Beth Boyd in October 1954 with whom he recently celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. Jerry joined the US Army during the Korean War where he served as an MP. After his Army service, Jerry returned to Michigan State where he earned his MBA. For the next 5 years he worked for Standard Oil Company during which time he and Carol met many lifelong friends. In 1961, Jerry moved his family to Arlington VA to launch a new business with Carols father and brothers. Jerry built and served as President of Combustion Products Distributors Corporation for 20 years. Jerry and Carol raised their three children in Arlington and Fairfax VA and were active members of Our Savior Lutheran church in Arlington and Prince of Peace Lutheran church in Springfield VA. In 1981 Jerry sold their home and business, and he and Carol left for Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne IN. He earned his Masters in Divinity and was ordained in 1984. He served as Associate Pastor at Holy Nativity Lutheran Church in Arbutus MD just outside Baltimore, as Senior Pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Troy NH and Interim Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Keene NH, and finally as Senior Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Aiken SC. He loved the Lord and his ministry sharing duties with Carol all along the way. He served as a Lutheran minister for 30 years before retiring in 2015 to Beaufort NC for the winters and Marquette MI for the summers. No matter where life led him, Marquette MI always called him home. His love of the "Arbutus" AKA "Camp" was his happy place. Jerry loved to tell stories to anyone who came to visit, laughing and joking about his childhood days, playing cribbage, watching the wildlife in the woods, and enjoying a beautiful sunset over Lake Superior. He could also be found cheering on the Michigan State Spartans Basketball and Football teams. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at Noe-Brooks Funeral Home officiated by Rev. James Daub. The family will receive friends the hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will take place at a later date in Marquette, MI. Due to Covid-19, masks and social distancing will be required. For those that cannot attend in person, the service will be live-streamed on the Noe Funeral Service Facebook page. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Carol Boyd Reiter; children, Kurt Reiter and his wife Jean of Charleston SC, Kim Taylor Ragland and her husband Greg of Berryville VA, Valerie Peterson Magnotto and her husband Mike of Beaufort NC; grandchildren, Jason Peterson and his wife Alex, Nicole Reiter Atkinson and her husband Andrew, Kyle Peterson, Ashley Reiter, Brittany Peterson, Jessica Taylor, Kendall Reiter Flaherty and her husband Jacob, Christian Reiter, Jeremy Peterson and his wife Leanna; step-grandchildren, Skip Frazzano and his wife Cece, Lisa Taylor, Rachel DeLuca, Michael DeLuca; great-grandchildren, Olivia Peterson, Sondra Peterson, Lilliana Taylor, Atlas Atkinson; brother, Richard Reiter and his wife Carol; sisters-in-law, Lydia Boyd, Betty Boyd, Laura Boyd; and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Prudence (nee Arndt) Reiter. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Lutherans for Life, a ministry that held a special place in Jerrys heart and which he actively supported for many years: https://lutheransforlife.org/donate Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noefs.net Arrangements by Noe Funeral Service, Inc. of Beaufort, NC. Please click here to view the video tribute Memorial Folder with Order of Service Click to download / open Services Visitation Tuesday November 24, 2020 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM Noe-Brooks Funeral Home 201 Professional Circle Morehead City, NC 28557 Funeral Service Tuesday November 24, 2020 11:00 AM Noe-Brooks Funeral Home 201 Professional Circle Morehead City, NC 28557