Susanne Reiter July 10, 1948 – Sept. 26, 2023

      Susanne Reiter, 75, died peacefully Tuesday morning, Sept. 26, 2023, at her home from a two-year battle with bone cancer. Funeral services were held 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, at S.S. Peter and Paul Lutheran Church, rural Monticello. Friends called at the church from 11 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. Goettsch Funeral Home has taken Susanne and her family into their care. By visiting Goettschonline.com you may share your thoughts, memories and condolences with Susanne's family and sign the online guest book.

    Surviving is her husband, Gene; her children, Jason (Regina), Morgan (Philip); and a grandson, Jacob, and another grandson to be born soon; her siblings, Jean DeShaw, Michele (Jim) Olsen, and Steve (Theresa) DeShaw.  She was preceded in death by her parents.

    Susanne Elzina DeShaw was born July 10, 1948, at John McDonald Hospital, Monticello, Iowa.  She was the daughter of William Clark and Esther Schoon, DeShaw.   She graduated from Maquoketa Valley Schools in 1966. Susanne continued her education at the University of Iowa where she received her degree in Elementary Education.  In later years she received her master's degree from the University of Northern Iowa. Susanne taught for three years in Marion, Iowa. Susanne then started her 39-year career at Maquoketa Valley teaching third grade. She loved teaching and touched many lives during her time at Maquoketa Valley.

    She married the love of her life, Gene Reiter, on Aug. 17, 1973, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Monticello. The couple spent 50 loving years together. He took great care of her in the last few years of her life during her cancer battle. Susanne was a Master Gardener, planting both flowers and vegetables. She was an excellent cook, enjoying both baking and canning as well.  In her spare time, she volunteered on many local projects, she especially enjoyed her time spent at the Tiny House. She was a woman of faith and spent many years volunteering for her local churches St. John's Lutheran Church and SS Peter and Paul Lutheran Church.

    May her memory live on in her flower beds and beautiful gardens. "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow".