Richard Reis Sr.
Richard H. Reis Sr., 90, Unity, peacefully passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Loyal. Rev. Emmanuel Famiyeh will officiate, and burial will follow in St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Mark Reis, Jacob Reis, Jeff Zettler, Michael Reis, Louis Nikolai, Margaret Reis, Timothy Nikolai, and Robert Esselman. Honorary pallbearers will be his remaining grandsons. Military rites will be conducted by the Colby VFW Post 2227. Visitation will be held at the church on Friday, Aug. 8, from 4-8 p.m., and again at the church on Saturday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service.
Richard Howard Reis was born on Sept. 1, 1934, in Pittsburg, Pa., to Jacob J. and Emma E. (Schaum) Reis. He was raised and received his education in Pittsburgh, attending Conly Trade School. Richard was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1953 and served our country proudly in Korea in the infantry until his honorable discharge. He was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat. When he returned home, he met his future wife, a nurse, when he was hospitalized for an appendicitis. Richard was united in holy matrimony to Virginia P. Deck on Jan. 14, 1956, at St. Joseph’s Mt. Oliver Catholic Church in Pittsburgh. Their union was blessed with 11 children and sadly four miscarriages. Richard worked very hard as a bricklayer by trade. They purchased a small dairy farm in southwestern Pennsylvania, and he continued his job as a bricklayer. In 1972, they moved to a dairy farm in Clark County, rural Unity. During this time, Richard continued to lay brick, working for Joe Lato, in Thorp, for 12 years. He and his children continued to work and expand the farm to what it is today. Richard will forever be remembered for his hard work, tenacious spirit, and his legacy he left for his family.
Richard was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, and the Colby VFW. Post 2227.
He will be dearly missed by his children: Deborah Esselman (John Baird) of Colby, Andrew Reis of Unity, Daniel (Carmen) Reis of Marshfield, Patrick (Kulani) Reis of Unity, Emma Jo (Allen) Zettler of Colby, Mary Ann (Rob) Rinehart of Willard, Anthony (Jody) Reis of Unity, Junitta (Todd) Nikolai of Loyal, and Elizabeth (Roger) Nikolai of Loyal; 53 grandchildren and 54 great-grandchildren; two sisters: Dorothy Close of Clairton, Pa., and Janet Reis of Bethel Park, Pa.; one brother, Aloysius Reis of Claysville, Pa.; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia, on Nov. 12, 2018; two sons: Richard and David Reis; one daughter-in-law, Colleen Reis; his parents; three brothers: Jacob, Norman, and Raymond Reis; and one sister, Delores Lis.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com. Cuddie Funeral Home of Loyal is assisting the family with arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY 172383
