Harvey Rieder Obituary

Harvey Louis Rieder, age 85, passed away peacefully in the evening hours of Monday, October 27, 2025, at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, WI, with his beloved wife, Donna, by his side. He was born on October 11, 1940, in Baraboo, Wisconsin, to Donald and Bertha (Ring) Rieder.
Harvey was preceded in death by both of his parents, a daughter, Minnie, a sister, Donna, and a brother, Gilbert, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Margie and Hank Kessler. He is survived by his sons, Gregory (Lorrie) (Rieder) Fitch and Rodney, and daughter, Karen (Duane) Walz, 11 grandchildren, as well as his brothers Stanley, Dennis (Carol) and Thomas; sisters, Mary (Pete) Schutz, Philomena (Paul) Endres and Arline (Joe) Hess; stepsons, Shane and Benjamin Smith, brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Michael Bitzer, and Linda (Monte) Thus, many nieces and nephews, along with many friends, all of whom loved and cherished him.
Harvey was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle. He was a man of many professional and personal talents. Harvey was an Air Force pilot and flew the F-4 Phantom. He worked as an Engineer for the Department of Transportation in Madison, WI (DOT) for many years, implementing the design and construction of many highways, roads, interchanges and bridges throughout Madison, and other cities and towns in Wisconsin, all of which are still used to this day. He always had a vision for each of these projects, and brought those ideas to fruition. He was a member of the Elks Club in Monona, WI, as well as the American Legion Post 0398, in Plain, WI.
He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed the waters of Monona, iceboat racing, fishing boats and pontoon boats, many of the latter of which we all gathered aboard to be with him, and would be on the water for hours on end, laughing and telling stories. He was also a Boy Scout Leader for many years. "Family" is what Harvey was all about. He enjoyed being with his children, grandchildren, siblings and friends as much as he could. Just sharing time "together" is what he enjoyed most. He also had a great love for the outdoors, hiking at Isle Royale with his friends and brothers-in-law. In his earlier years, he loved deer hunting, and just walking through the woods, appreciating nature. He enjoyed cutting wood for his wood stove. Many times his brothers, brothers-in-law and friends would help with that project. Then he could relax at home, with the warmth of that burning wood in the cold, winter months. And for several years, his nieces and nephews along with siblings and their spouses would pluck apples from his trees, to help him and all of us make fresh, homemade apple cider, all excited to let it pour into our own gallon jugs, that we dearly protected! Such fun! As well as all of this, he liked putzing around with his four-wheeler around the woods on his property, with Donna in tow. He and Donna shared many happy, laughter-filled and cherished moments together, as she lovingly cared for him, and with such dedication during his terrible bout with cancer, which ravaged his body and was devastating to both of them, until he passed away.
Harvey will be dearly missed by his wife, Donna, and all of us. He was an "icon," and there will be no other like Harvey. His loss is of great magnitude to all of us. May he rest in the loving embrace of our Lord and Blessed Mother in Heaven.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Luke's Catholic Church in Plain with military rites conducted by the Plain American Legion Post #398. Visitation will be held on Tuesday at the church from 9:30 A.M. until the time of Mass at 11:00 A.M. Burial will be held in the church cemetery at a later date.
Online condolences available at www.staffordfuneralhomes.com The Richardson-Stafford Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.