Obituary: Frederick Reker

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in St. Cloud for Rev. Mr. Frederick J. Reker, age 84, of St. Cloud, who died on Monday at his home surrounded by his loving family. Most Reverend John F. Kinney will officiate. Burial will be in Assumption Cemetery.

Fred was born September 22, 1928, in Lismore to Fred and Catherine (Kern) Reker. He graduated from St. Mary’s College in Winona in 1951, and attended St. John’s Seminary for three years. Fred started working at the Liturgical Press at Collegeville in 1955. He retired in 1993. Fred married Rita M. Bechtold on June 14th, 1958, in Luxemburg. On June 2nd, 1978, Fred was ordained to the permanent deaconate for the St. Cloud Diocese by Bishop George Speltz. He was assigned to St. John Cantius Parish, and later to the cluster of St. John Cantius, St. Anthony’s and Holy Spirit parishes. He served as chaplain at Foley Nursing Home for 19 years.

Fred loved to cook for his family, gardening and shoveling snow for the neighborhood. He was known for his very welcoming spirit, but above all else, Fred loved his wife, children and grandchildren. He shared his faith with all those he touched.

He was a member of St. John Cantius parish since 1958. Fred was a member and past grand knight of the Knights of Columbus Council #961. During his service to the St Cloud Diocese, Fred served as confirmation M.C. for the Bishop for 10 years. He is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, Independent Order of Foresters, Collegeville Credit Union, which he served on the supervisory committee for 40 years. He was a member of the Catholic Credit Union of St. Cloud where he was a manager for five years. He was a member of St. Margaret’s-St. Joseph’s Society. Fred was chaplain for the Daughters of Isabella, and member of the State Board of Minnesota League of Credit Unions for six years.

Survivors include his wife Rita; children, Elizabeth “Betsy” Westerhoff (Jim), Cold Spring, Martin Reker (Karen), Rice, Matthew Reker, St. Cloud, and Leah Wunderlich (Dave), Owatonna, 11 grandchildren, Chad, Katrina, Caitlin Reker, Susanne Westerhoff-Uprety (Praveen), Benjamin and Isaac Westerhoff, Savannah, Bria, Payton, Elizabeth and Theresa Wunderlich; brothers, Milo Reker, Worthington, and Ray Reker, Sioux Falls SD.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two daughters, Mary Catherine and Susanne Marie; sisters, Rosina Reker, Irene Stubbe, and Viola Honermann; and brothers, Edwin, Roman, Alvin and Sylvester Reker, and an infant grandchild Jonah Wunderlich.

Memorials are preferred to the Catholic Education Foundation with the St. Cloud Diocese.

The family would like to thank the staffs at the St. Cloud Hospital Telemetry, Cardiac Care and Emergency Room at the St. Cloud Hospital, and St. Benedict’s Center.

Daniel Funeral Home in St. Cloud is in charge of the arrangements.

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