BRANSTETER

Reitta Bransteter, 88, of Rockford, Ohio, passed away on Wednesday morning, January 13, 2021, at Mercer Health Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater, Ohio. 

She was born October 17, 1932 in Celina, Ohio, to Russell and Ruth Eichenauer, who preceded her in death.  On March 1, 1953, she married Kenneth Bransteter, who passed away December 9, 2009. 

She graduated in 1950 from Celina High School and started working at the Celina Insurance Group until their marriage.   She became a member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Rockford, Ohio, where she had been a teacher, member of the choir, and the Women’s Fellowship.  She was a homemaker, farmhand, and loved cooking and making cookies for grand and great-grandchildren and was given the name “Cookie Grandma”.

Reitta was a very loving, sharing, and caring person.  She is survived by her family of three sons:  James (Kathy), Terry (Vivian), David (Amy Jo) Bransteter and one daughter Connie (Steve) Sapp, all of Celina, Ohio; eleven grandchildren:  Travis (Vanessa), Jason (Meghan), Lance (Jennifer), Trever (Courtney), Riley, Raegen Bransteter, Amy (Chris) Lyons, Tara (Michael) Patterson, Trisha (Nathan) Knapke, Chad (Laura) Sapp, and Cory Sapp; twenty great-grandchildren:  Parker, Branson, Preslie and Brooks Lyons, Rowen, Remi, and Ryder Knapke, Savanna and Sutherlyn Patterson, Madelyn and Carly Sapp, Turner (Karli) Bransteter, Casey and Troy Patterson. Case, Kallee, Kaylor, Colin, Hunter, Harper, Crew, and Charlie Bransteter.  Also surviving is a brother Eldon (Ruthann) Eichenauer, a niece Gwyn (Gary) Stetler, and a nephew Greg (Joni) Eichenauer. 

Deceased are an infant grandson, Trent Bransteter, a great great grandson Kingsley Patterson, a brother-in-law and sister-in-law Carl "Jack" and Betty Carr and their two children Debra and Scott Carr, and in-laws Argyle and Lucille Bransteter.

Private services for the family will be held Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Rockford, Ohio, with Pastor Tom Brunstrup officiating.  Burial will follow at the church cemetery.  Memorials may be directed to the church or to Cheryl Ann Programs, Celina, Ohio. 

Condolences may be expressed at ketchamripley.com   

For the safety of all, we ask that family members attending Reitta’s service, please wear masks.  Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home has been entrusted with Reitta’s arrangements.