Reita Rae Marcellus

Reita Rae Marcellus, Loveland, passed away at her home on Tuesday, October 26, after a valiantly fought battle with cancer. She was born September 25, 1944, in Eureka, SD. She grew up on the family farm near Herreid, SD, where she attended school and graduated from Herreid High in 1962. She attended Northern State College (now Northern State University) in Aberdeen, SD, and then worked in Pierre, SD, before moving to Denver, CO, in 1966 where she was employed as an Administrative Assistant for O.M. Franklin Serum and then for Silicon Graphics until her retirement in 1999. It was at O.M. Franklin Serum that she met Max Marcellus, and they were married on November 30, 1968. She and Max lived in the Denver area until her retirement and then moved to Grand Junction, CO, residing there until they moved to Loveland in 2007. Reita continued to use her skills as a volunteer at McKee Medical Center in Loveland, serving ten years there, and was awarded the Senior Volunteer Excellence award in 2012. Reita loved the people she worked with and all the contacts she made there.

Reita strove to be a proper example to those younger than she and hoped to teach others to live in peace because she believed most things we argue about are not really that important. She and Max enjoyed road trips to visit family as well as travel in Colorado where Reita used her photography skills to take beautiful photos of wildlife and scenery. She loved the color yellow and especially enjoyed the fall aspen trees as they turned their golden colors in the Rocky Mountains. She dearly loved Max and valued their marriage of nearly 53 years. Reita enjoyed doing puzzles and spending time with family, particularly her three, beautiful, local nieces and their families. She loved the Lord and was committed to serving Him with her life.

Reita is survived by her husband, Max, her brother Doug Schoeck of Downers Grove, IL, her sister, Marlys Schlei, of Fort Collins, CO, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Martha and Edward Schoeck, and her brother Clyde Schoeck.

Memorial contributions may be made in Reita’s name to the Food Bank for Larimer County.