Renee Reiff

Renee Reiff, 74, Kent, Minnesota died on Monday, June 6, 2011 at the St. Francis Healthcare Campus, Breckenridge, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. John's Catholic Church, Wahpeton on Thursday, June 9 at 10:30 A.M. with Rev. Dale F. Lagodinski officiating. Visitation will be held on Wednesday at the Vertin-Munson Funeral from 5:00-7:00 P.M. with a Catholic Daughters Rosary at 5:00 P.M. and a 7:00 P.M. Prayer Service. There will also be visitation at the church 1 hour prior to the service on Thursday morning. Interment will be at St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery, Kent, MN.

Renee Klisch Reiff was born on October 4, 1936 in ElmDale, MN to Mike and Helen (Schelonka) Klisch. She graduated from Upsala High School in 1954, attended Business College in St. Cloud, MN and attended College in Oregon; graduating with an MSW Degree. As a Franciscan, Renee was employed at St. Francis Home, Breckenridge, MN from 1964-1969 and as Administrator from 1971-1975. She worked as a Social Worker in Fargo, Fergus Falls and Breckenridge. She was employed at St. Catherine's Living Center as a Pastoral Worker from 1991 until her retirement in 2004. She had great love and compassion for the elderly.

Renee married Chuck Reiff on December 28, 1985 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Bowlus, MN. The couple resided in Kent, MN. Renee was active at St. Thomas Church in Kent, MN until 2002 when she became a member of St. John's Catholic Church, Wahpeton. She was active in the choir, Homebound Ministry, Catholic Daughters and the church circle. Renee was instrumental in organizing the Home-Delivered Meal Program in Breckenridge, served on the Clay-Wilkin Opportunity Council Board, Wilkin RSVP Board and the Wilkin Co. Cancer Board. She was a member of the Ministerial Association until her retirement, the American Legion Auxiliary Post 642 in Bowlus and the Eagles Auxiliary #2749. Renee enjoyed adding happiness to people's lives by playing accordion at Senior Centers, Nursing Homes and at many celebrations. She touched people by her compassion, prayer and love for human beings. Her faith was the center of her life. Together Chuck and Renee enjoyed traveling, dancing and volunteering together in assisting the elderly with music at Holy Mass and sing-a-longs. She enjoyed spending time with family and grandchildren.

She will be sadly missed by her husband, Chuck, Kent, MN, three step-daughters; Cheryl Heitkamp, Fargo, ND, Carole Nation, Wahpeton, ND and Sandra (David) Knotts, Bemidji, MN, two step-sons; Mike (Kim) Reiff, Maple Grove, MN and Jim (Trinda) Reiff, Breckenridge, MN, 14 grandchildren and one great grandchild, one sister, Jeanette (Jim) Zehowski, Flensburg, MN and a brother, Michael (Jeanette) Klisch, St. Cloud, MN, two brother-in-laws, Max Molus, Fridley, MN and Don Meyer, St. Cloud, MN and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Irene Molus and Delphine Meyer and two brother-in-laws, Donald Reiff and Thomas Reiff.