Gary H. Reitz

Gary Howard Reitz, 84, of Algonquin, passed away on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

Gary was born in Chicago on April 29, 1940, to Henry and Dorothy (Kozma) Reitz. He met Dottie Wind while working at a bank in Lincolnshire. They married on June 2, 1994. From that moment on, they built a life filled with love, laughter, and a whole lot of good food.

Gary was a man of many talents and interests. He had a green thumb in the garden, could grill like a pro, and never met a kitchen gadget he didn’t love. He had a sharp sense of humor, always ready with a great dad joke or a quick-witted comment. He took pride in looking sharp—always dapper and stylish. He was a hardworking, funny, and mischievous guy, but above all, he was incredibly kind. He had a generous heart, was fiercely protective of his family, and was someone you could always count on.

Gary had a smile with a twinkle in his eye and a way of making everyone around him feel at ease. He was wicked smart, yet humble. If you needed help, he’d give you the shirt off his back. He was a mentor, a giver, and a friend to so many.

He is survived by his wife, Dottie Reitz; his children, Lisa (Marc) Frye and their children, Jenna, Jacob, Justin, and Joshua; Loren (Scott) Klein and their children, Evan, Sawyer, and Elliot; Leslie (Michael) Messagie and their children, Leah and Ella; Donna (Craig) Lucas and their children, Erik, Ryan, Colin, and Grace; along with Robert and Daniel Murphy and their families. He was also a proud grandfather to Dottie’s grandchildren, Jessica and Sarah Runchey. He is further survived by his siblings, Ronald (the late Barbara) Reitz and Shirley (the late Raymond) Kerley, as well as his sister-in-law, Jackie Reitz.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Henry Reitz, and Dottie’s daughter, Patricia Runchey.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025, from 10:00 AM until the service at 12:00 noon at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Stand Up to Cancer https://standuptocancer.org/