Clinton Karl Reitz

Clinton Karl Reitz or as he liked to say Clint… “Make My Day” Reitz was born in Allegany, New York on February 15, 1920. He grew up on a farm the youngest of 4 children. When he graduated high school the traveling bug bit and he was off on his first adventure out West.

He landed in Los Angeles and began working at an Aluminum Factory. This is where his charm and handsome good looks swooped Maxine Weldon off her feet at the time clock. They were known as the time clock romance and soon were married on February 14, 1943. As he always said… “I aged overnight..” since his birthday was the next day.

Their life was just picking up speed…bringing into this world their pride and joys… Dennis and Ronald. They bought their home in North Hollywood…where they lived and loved and grew. He started a washer and dryer repair store and it expanded to coin operated Laundry rooms. His life was filled with his family, work, and of course Emmanuel Lutheran Church and Laurel Hall… plus helping to start CLU and checking on Big Bear Lake during Midoriland visits. Let’s not forget all the traveling back to see family with the boys and Maxine in tow. Now if you think that was all that filled his time…he always found time to go hunting and fishing. When the boys were old enough he took up golfing using his sons as caddies and golf ball chasers.

As the boys grew, he made sure they were also involved in church activities…taking them on youth group outings and overseeing the girlfriend issues. Both boys married their high-school “dad approved” church girlfriends… Joyce Corbett and Beverly Francis.

His love poured out even more when the family grew with five grandchildren Stacy, Marcee, Cindy, Debbie, and Brian. Always, making sure to see them on those special events and keep up with the activities and instilling a wonderful legacy of the importance of family and traditions.

When he retired early…always the conversationalist he couldn’t stay home, so off to see the world he and Maxine went. Traveling all over, from fishing in Alaska, to riding camels through the Holy Lands, rebaptizing in the Jordan River, to walking the Great Wall of China and snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

As his grandchildren started marrying (Mike, Sean, Todd, Eric, and Shannon) and giving him his great grandchildren, they decided to stick more to their Lazy Days Motor home group and stay in the USA. The famous US map that hangs on their family room wall already filled with highlighted highways was highlighted again. He made sure he was there for all 13 great-grandchildren as well: Alethia, Megan, Saige, J.T., Kyle, Dalton, Cassidy, Caitlin, Victoria, Timothy, Corbin, Aurora, and Alexis. As time went on and in the last few years they traveled from family home to family home, the big travels with one or both of the boys.

They finally slowed down and we were able to catch them at home. We could visit and pour out all of the love on him that he gave all of us. He had more time for his hobbies continuing to make the stain glass from angels to the stain glass window in the church and everywhere else. Still in his yellow house on Irvine Ave. with the love of his life for 71 ½ years telling all those tales you only read about in story books. Again, he was blessed to have been in his home adding caregivers who soon became part of our family. He loved and lived life to the fullest (94 ½ years) and is now on his next adventure meeting all those he made a difference to along the way and playing the greens of heaven…looking for another hole in one until we are together again. We love you!!!

Arrangements under the direction of Pierce Brothers Valhalla, North Hollywood, CA.