Elmer Thomas Reichert
March 8, 1906 - May 21, 2005

ELMER REICHERT MUSCATINE, Iowa - - Elmer Thomas Reichert, 99, of Muscatine died Saturday May 21, 2005 in his home. Born March 8, 1906, the youngest male child of Clara Proctor Reichert and Karl Reichert, Elmer was the last surviving of eleven siblings. Reichert was a man of exceptional character and a life long resident of Muscatine. He was a valued and active member of the community throughout his life. Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 25, 2005, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. Dr. Hal Green of the Wesley United Methodist Church will officiate. Casket bearers will be Ryan Brookhart, Nathan Reichert, Richard Dingler, Doug Dingler, Kevin Reichert, William Smith, Charles Smith and Edward Smith. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24, 2005, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Bloomington Grange. Reichert was a dedicated husband who loved his wife of 60 years, Mabel Josephine Smith Reichert, who preceded him in death by five years. He was a loving father and is survived by a daughter, Louise Reichert Dingler, a son, Elmer Karl Reichert and daughter-in-law Linda Eis-Reichert; grandchildren Melissa Reichert-Brookhart, Nathan Reichert, Richard Dingler, and Douglas Dingler; grandchildren-in-law Ryan Brookhart, Rebecca Reichert, and Bradi Dingler; and great grandchildren Simon and Spencer Reichert and Olivia Brookhart. Reichert was chief superintendent for Tunnacliff Construction until 1950 when he founded Reichert Construction Company. His company built many projects in eastern Iowa and western Illinois to include: Wesley United Methodist Church Sunday School and Chapel Addition, First Christian Church, Warehouse Market, the Downtown Drug building in Muscatine, and schools in Iowa City and Davenport. In 1967, with his son, Reichert formed ElKar Contractors. ElKar Contractors designed and developed numerous housing additions, the largest of which was Heritage Heights Addition in Muscatine, as well as many other construction projects throughout Muscatine. ElKar constructed almost 300 houses in the Muscatine area. Elmer officially left the construction industry in 1979 after 44 years as a building professional but would never admit to retiring. Elmer was regarded as one of the most professional and ethical builders in the area, receiving numerous awards and recognition for his building expertise and excellence. Elmer was an active civic minded member of Muscatine's community. Through his life he served as an active member in numerous community and civic organizations including: Wesley United Methodist Church, Salvation Army Board of Directors, the Bloomington Township Grange, Muscatine Elks Club, Farm Bureau, and he was one of the original shareholders of the Muscatine Development Corporation and the Muscatine County Home Builders Association. Elmer was actively involved in politics his entire life helping elect his son Karl to the Muscatine City Council in 1967 and his grandson Nathan Reichert to the Iowa State house in 2004. Additionally, he was devoted to his family, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Elmer lived in the home, which he built, on Tipton Road. He was credited with being an exceptional gardener, raising magnificent and beautiful flower and vegetable gardens. Even in his last years, Elmer could be seen riding his mower as he cut his grass and rode down Tipton Road to visit his family. A world traveler, Elmer and his family visited all of the continental US and North America and had traveled abroad extensively in Europe and South America.

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