Janice Deeann Reiter

Janice DeeAnn Reiter was born December 20, 1938, in Beloit, Kansas. DeeAnn, daughter of Alfred Kenneth Robinson and Adeline Pahls Robinson, was the oldest of five children. She died on Thursday, January 10, 2008 at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit at the age of 69 years and 21 days.
DeeAnn attended Cawker City Elementary School and was graduated a valedictorian from Cawker City High School in 1957. As a young girl, DeeAnn developed her love of books and enjoyed caring for her younger siblings. She received a degree from Brown Mackie School of Business, Salina, KS, in 1958, and worked at the branch office of the Kansas City Board of Trade in Beloit.
DeeAnn was married to Joseph William Reiter on November 24, 1962, and lived all 45 married years in Beloit. They had five children: Beth, Teresa, Lisa, Bill and Sara.
DeeAnn was a devoted wife and mother who loved cooking and taking care of her family. She instilled the value of education in her children; and seeing all five of them graduate from college was a great source of pride for her. She loved playing cards and games at family get-togethers, where the house would instantly fill with loud laughter. Her six grandchildren were her greatest joy. They have fond memories of their grandma teaching them to make cut-out sugar cookies.
DeeAnn was a joyful, funny, optimistic person who, once a friend, was a friend forever. She was very modest about her own attributes while always praising the accomplishments of others. Her smile and joyful spirit were infectious.
DeeAnn loved watching KU sports and discussing the games with her children and grandchildren. She also never tired of learning and, when given a computer, became a devotee of surfing the net and emailing her family and friends. She especially loved receiving pictures and videos of her grandsons.
DeeAnn was a long-time member of St. John's Catholic Church and the St. John's Ladies' Guild. She valued the Catholic education her children received at St. John's Catholic Schools, and she was happy to later be a part of that for countless students as a teacher's aide.
DeeAnn was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her children Beth and husband Danny Fox of Lawrence, KS and their sons Justin, Jonathan, Drew and Blake; Teresa Reiter of Beloit, KS; Lisa Reiter of Kansas City, MO; Bill Reiter and wife Shari of Gardner, KS and their sons Ethan and Jarrett; and Sara Reiter of Kansas City, MO. She is also survived by her four siblings, Ken Robinson and wife Pauline of Glasco, KS; Nancy Robinson of Kansas City, MO; Jolene Pepper and husband Gene of Martha's Vineyard, MA; and Karla Neihouse and husband Jim of Downs, KS. DeeAnn will also be lovingly remembered by twenty-five nieces and nephews, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

A funeral mass will be at 10:00 AM Monday, January 14, 2008 at the St. John's Catholic Church in Beloit, followed by burial in St. John's Cemetery in Beloit. Memorials may be given to the St. John's Memorial Trust Fund. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Sunday at the McDonald Funeral Home, and the casket will remain closed following visitation. A vigil service will be at 6:00 PM Sunday at the Church.