Tony Reiter, 93, died peacefully at Highland Cove Care Center in Salt Lake City on September 18, 2014. He was born on November 3, 1920 as the sixth and youngest child of Jakob and Therese Demke Reiter. His father was an Austrian immigrant and his mother had emigrated from Prussia. As Tony was growing up in the Forest Dale area of Salt Lake City, he enjoyed a happy and adventurous boyhood. His family was very poor, but he and his three brothers found plenty of ways to amuse themselves that were free of charge. He told about getting on his bicycle as a five year old and riding all over the valley, sometimes out to Decker Lake where the boys liked to swim. They thought it was fun to put pennies on downtown streetcar rails and disengage the electric connections to stop the trolleys. Occasionally they tried to scale the walls of the old Utah State Penitentiary in Sugarhouse to see if they could see an execution.
Tony graduated from South High School in 1939 where he met Melba LaRaine Broman. They were married February 12, 1942 in the Salt Lake Temple shortly before Tony entered the army during WWII. He acted as a courier, delivering orders that were in a briefcase handcuffed to his wrist. He served in North Africa and the China-India-Burma Theater. Tony, a fine athlete, was the tennis doubles champion of that theater. While in India, he contracted malaria and ended the war recovering in Afghanistan. Upon his arrival back in Salt Lake, after his discharge, he was greeted by his first son Anthony.
Tony became a painting contractor and painted houses in Utah, as well as LDS meetinghouses all over the United States. He always worked hard to support his family even if that meant travelling out of state for work while Melba stayed in Salt Lake working and maintaining their home.
Tony was a man who could fix just about anything and could find a way to build whatever he imagined. He and Melba bought a home on Commonwealth Avenue and later on Mars Way in Holladay. This was at a time when these neighborhoods were just being developed. Tony helped to build and paint both of these houses. He added architectural details like gingerbread trim he milled, leaded glass windows, and wood moldings and paneling inside. He and Melba were very proud of their homes and justifiably so. They worked very hard through the years to maintain their home and yard and make them beautiful. They lived in their home on Mars Way for 57 years and enjoyed the association of their good friends and neighbors.
In the early 1950's, Tony and Melba had two more sons, Scott and Doug. Tony was proud of his three sons and helped coach their sports teams, lead their scout troops, and take them camping and fishing. He took pride in the accomplishments of his boys and wanted to know about their interests and endeavors. As his sons grew up, married, and had children of their own, that interest extended to in-laws and grandchildren. Tony attended the events and games of his grandchildren and followed the development of their talents and hobbies. He wanted to know about what everyone was working on or how school was going for them. He never had the opportunity to attend college, but he encouraged his boys to pursue their academic goals. He was happy to see his grand and great grandchildren get good educations and careers they enjoy.
Tony's great sense of humor made him a delight to be around. He was a kind, patient, generous, and sweet man. Even while in poor health at the end of his life, he was cheerful and always expressed gratitude for any kind of service given in his behalf.
Tony and Melba seemed like kids into their eighties. They were married for over 71 years, and were able to stay in their own home until Melba died October, 2013.
Tony was also preceded in death by his five siblings: Eva Reiter Hall, Ruth Reiter Farrell, Frank Reiter, Joseph (Joe) Reiter, and Otto Reiter. He is survived by his three sons and two daughters-in-law: Anthony Stephen Reiter and Virginia Byrd, Jeffrey Scott and Tonya Saxton Reiter, and Douglas Kirk Reiter. He had four grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.
The Reiter family would like to thank the dedicated staff at Millcreek Home Health and Hospice and Highland Cove for the loving care given to their father. Tony considered Carlos Soto to be, not only his aide, but a dear friend.
A graveside service will be held at 1:30 pm on Saturday, September 27 at Larkin Sunset Gardens at 1950 East 10600 South, Sandy, Utah. Friends are invited to call between 12:00 noon and 1:30 pm prior to the service to visit with the family.
