Herman G. Reitz, 89, of Gering, died Saturday, January 23, 2010 at Heritage Estates in Gering.  His funeral service will be held at 10 am on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at Emmanuel Congregational Church in Scottsbluff with Pastor John Adams officiating.  Interment will be held at Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff.  Friends may call from 10 am until 7 pm on Wednesday at Jolliffe Funeral Home in Scottsbluff.  Military Honors will be rendered by the United States Navy Funeral Honor Guard.  A memorial has been established to the church.  Online condolences may be left at  HYPERLINK “http://www.jolliffefuneralhome.com” www.jolliffefuneralhome.com.  Jolliffe Funeral Home in Scottsbluff is in charge of arrangements.

Herman was born May 18, 1920 in Lincoln, NE to Henry and Anna (Fuchs) Reitz.  He received his early education in Gering and graduated from Gering High School in 1938.  He grew up helping his dad on the farm; he then entered the Navy in 1942.  He married Ruth Raubach on May 11, 1945 in Scottsbluff.  After he was honorably discharged in 1946, they farmed in Alliance for 1 year, then Mirage Flats by Hay Springs for 25 years.  They moved to Scottsbluff in 1971 where he worked at Sandberg Implement for 2 years, then Panhandle COOP for 15 years until he retired in 1985.

Survivors include his son Terry (Vi) Reitz of Gering; daughter Rita Jo Reitz of Kansas City, MO; grandchildren Heidi (Ken) Lehr, Anthony Reitz, Dave (Karen) Nowatzke, Scott (Kim) Nowatzke and Jillian (Dan) Mills; great grandchildren Kristoffer, Casey and Cameron Lehr, Kaden and Shelby Nowatzke, Kyler and Jazmin Mills, and Morgan Nowatzke; great-great grandchildren Delbert and Krista Lehr; sister Millie Griess; sisters-in-law Arlene Reitz, Penny Reitz, Loretta Reitz and Marilyn Reitz, and numerous nieces and nephews.

His parents, wife Ruth, six brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.