Dwight E. "Pete" Reiff

KEWANEE – Dwight E. “Pete” Reiff, 82, of Kewanee, died at 8:28 a.m., Sunday, December 30, 2018 at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m., Friday, January 4 at the First United Methodist Church in Kewanee. Pastor Kevin Drane will officiate. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the services at the church. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Gardens in rural Kewanee. Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church or to the Henry County Humane Society. Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee is in charge of arrangements.

He was born November 25, 1936 in Galva, the son of Elmer and Ruth (Collinson) Reiff. He married Sandra Heaton on June 16, 1963 at the First United Methodist Church in Kewanee. Survivors include his wife of Kewanee, two daughters, Diane (Todd) Reeser of Kewanee and Krista (Kerry) Loncka of Galva, a brother, Ted (Maurine) Reiff of St. Augustine, FL, a sister, RueEll (David) Richeson of Fishers, IN, four grandchildren; Drake and Paige Reeser and Christian and Courtney Loncka, two sisters-in-law, Kay Heaton and Janet Morris and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Kelly.

Pete graduated from Kewanee High School in 1954.  In his younger years he enjoyed riding his motorcycle, fishing and hunting.  He was a member of Roger Reiman’s pit crew at the Daytona 200, when Roger won the race in 1961. 

Pete was a painting contractor his entire life and painted and wallpapered many homes and businesses in the Kewanee area.  He was known for his skill of matching wood stains.  One of his last projects was donating his time to paint the new wood windows in Ryan’s Round Barn at Johnson’s Sauk Trail State Park.

He was a member of the Kewanee First United Methodist church for over 50 years where he recorded the weekly congregation attendance, assisted with the acolytes and formerly served on the Board of Trustees.

In his spare time, he enjoyed feeding and watching the birds in his backyard, watching the Chicago Cubs on TV, meeting with his daily coffee group and spending time with his family.

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