Raymond John Reifenrath, Jr.

DAKOTA CITY -- Raymond John Reifenrath Jr., 62, of Dakota City died unexpectedly Thursday, Aug. 30, 2007, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Michael Catholic Church in South Sioux City, with the Rev. Paul Albenesius officiating. Burial will be in Dakota City Cemetery. Visitation will be 2 to 8 p.m. Monday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Raymond was born Jan. 17, 1945, in Homer, Neb., the son of Raymond John and Lorraine (Rhode) Reifenrath Sr.

He married Sherry Ann Saltsgiver on Dec. 10, 1966, at St. Michael Catholic Church in South Sioux City. He was raised in Jackson, Neb. After his marriage, the couple moved to Dakota City.

He joined the U.S. 185th Air Guard at the age of 18. He retired as a senior master sergeant in 2000. He served his country, that he loved, honorably in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1969 in the U.S. Air National Guard. After retiring from the Air National Guard, he worked part time for Briar Cliff College and for the city of Dakota City. He was especially proud of his up-keep of the Dakota City Cemetery.

He was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church and the American Legion. He was devoted to his family, his country and the city of Dakota City. He loved taking care of his granddaughter. They spent a lot of time together on car rides and fishing trips, where they would be talking and planning their next trip. They shared a special bond. He would make several tips a day to the D.C. Station to fill up his soda and visit with friends. He was an outdoorsman that loved hunting, fishing, his dogs and getting on his four-wheeler. He especially enjoyed his time on the Missouri River in his duck blind and making hunting decoys. He was an avid Nebraska football fan. He also enjoyed coaching his sons and watching their games. Some of his proudest moments were watching his oldest son play football for Nebraska.

Survivors include his wife, Sherry Ann Reifenrath of Dakota City; his mother, Lorraine Reifenrath of South Sioux City; two sons and their wives, Raymond John and Sadie Reifenrath III of Dakota Dunes, S.D., and Rick Jason and Tabitha and Reifenrath of Le Mars; two granddaughters, Rikki Jane and Ella Rae Reifenrath; a brother-in-law and his wife, Mark and Betty Saltsgiver; sisters-in-law and their husbands, Sonia and Marlin Synder, Sheila and Denny Smith and Sindy and Steve Synder; a special sister-in-law and her husband, Shelly and Rick Twiford and their children, Chris, Nicky and Tiffany, watching them growing up and living next door, he was especially close to them; beloved brother, Fred Reifenrath of Emerson, Neb.; two brothers, Francis and Vincent Reifenrath; and three sisters, Theresa and her husband, Jerry Asmussen of Moville, Iowa, Margaret and her husband, Roy King of Sergeant Bluff and Michelle Loos.

He was preceded in death by his father, Raymond John Reifenrath Sr.; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Albert "Salty" and Mary Jane Saltsgiver.

Pallbearers will be Rick Twiford, Chris Twiford, Dave O'Dell, Lowell Satterwhite, Danny Rager, Terry Gamble, Al Kokenge, Dan Bumstead and Jerry Copple.