Russell R. “Rooster” Reuter, age 96, of New Glarus passed away at the New Glarus Home on July 17, 2025. He was born on May 31, 1929, in Exeter township. He graduated from New Glarus High School and married his high school sweetheart, Marie Stuckey, on October 3, 1948. His father-in-law performed the service. In 1951, he contracted tuberculosis and spent 18 months in Lakeview Sanitorium in Madison. He also survived heart attacks, colon cancer, a lung collapse, and many other health challenges with strength and quiet resolution. Dad lived a life of service. He was a volunteer fireman for 29 years, seven of which he served as fire chief. After his retirement from the fire department, he served as a fire inspector in New Glarus for many years. He also served on the board of the Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois Fire/Rescue Association. He was a member of Swiss UCC and had served as president of the consistory and as a member of the property committee. He was an inspector on the election board for 14 years. He was also a driving force in starting the first New Glarus ambulance service. Even with his health challenges, he lived life! Many stories have been told about his left-handed bowling team and men’s fastpitch softball team escapades and his fishing and hunting adventures. You could always find his name in a corner square on the football and baseball pools. He was incredibly lucky with the shake of the day, too! He was fortunate to have a best friend who was also his brother-in-law, Sylvan (Sib) Kundert. Oh, the adventures they had! He was charter member #2 at Edelweiss Country Club, and he golfed for the last time when he was 90. He enjoyed camping, and they bought a trailer in Sauk City on the Wisconsin River to spend their weekends sitting around a campfire, playing cards, or fishing. He could always be heard before he was seen, as he was a constant whistler. He loved Big Band music and taught his children to appreciate the “oldies,” too. Dad enjoyed watching all sports, but especially the Packers, Brewers, and Badgers. In recent years, he would always have a jigsaw puzzle in progress. He was employed as a bookkeeper for Pet Milk in New Glarus and several other businesses. He sold insurance for a time, but admitted he wasn’t pushy enough to sell many policies. He was the service manager at Disch Hardware until they closed. He then became the business manager for New Glarus Light and Water until his retirement. He could fix just about anything…even if there were pieces left over when it was all assembled! He was a hard worker, a well-respected, fair, and honest man. Mom and Dad had been honored to be the New Glarus Home’s Homecoming King and Queen in 2022. They had celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary and were believed to be the oldest living couple in New Glarus until Mom passed in August of 2024. He had tirelessly cared for her as dementia slowly took her away. He missed her dearly and now has been reunited with her.
Mom and Dad had five children: Tom, Margaret (Dave) Benson, Lynne (Duane) Hustad, Nancy (Tom) Marty, and Dan. Unfortunately, Lynne passed unexpectedly just two days before Dad. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grands, his sister Sandra Frontzak and sister-in-law Ruth Kundert.
He is predeceased by his wife, Marie, daughter Lynne, parents, Clarence and Minnie Adeline (Kubly) Reuter, mother- and father-in-law Rev. Walter J. and Mayme (Braun) Stuckey, sister Donna Rupnow, brothers-in-law Stan Rupnow, Sylvan Kundert, Paul Stuckey, Robert Stuckey, Arnold Kehrli, George Frontzak, sisters-in-law Dorothy Kehrli, Martha Stuckey, Maria Stuckey, and son Tom’s life partner, Gloria Briggs.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 15, 2025 at the Swiss United Church of Christ, 18 Fifth Ave., New Glarus, WI, with a luncheon to follow at the New Glarus Fire Department, 218 Fourth Ave., New Glarus, WI.
A gathering of relatives and friends will precede the memorial service from 9:00 a.m. until time of services at the Swiss United Church of Christ in New Glarus.
The Zentner-Beal Funeral Home of New Glarus is assisting the family.
Online condolences may be given at www.bealfuneralhomes.com
