Jackson, TN - Funeral services for Louis Reitzammer will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday January 26, 2009, at First Baptist Church, with Dr. Craig Christina officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Memorial Gardens.

Louis Reitzammer was born January 12, 1914, in Arkansas City, AR. He died peacefully in his sleep Friday morning at home, January 23, 2009.

As the first born son, named after his father, they both preferred to be called Louie, the German pronunciation of Louis. He was Valedictorian of his Arkansas City High School class of 1931. His father died in 1932 and his mother moved to Jackson, TN so the two oldest of her 5 boys could attend Union University. His mother, Helen Richards Reitzammer, died March 17, 1959, in Memphis. Louis was hired full time at the West Tennessee Power and Light Company. He soon met and married Juanita Williams.

Louis began work at McCowat-Mercer Printing as a cost accountant, and was there when he was drafted into the Army in 1942. He was assigned to the Air Force Troop Carrier Command and discharged in 1945.

He returned to Jackson and started a direct mail advertising business called The Letter Shop. He was interested in model planes, boats and kits and that interest soon grew into The Hobby Shop. In 1956 he merged The Hobby Shop into McGee Ross Hardware in exchange for a share of the store's ownership. In 1972, after the death of one principal and the retirement of another, the store was closed. He worked at Tom Lawlers until his retirement in 1979. His hobbies were genealogy, fishing, stamp collecting, computer programming, church choir, barbershop quartet singing and iris growing.

Louis was a member of the First Baptist Church, a deacon, named Deacon Emeritus December 17, 2006.

He taught children at First Baptist Church Sunday School for 50 years and sang in the Sanctuary Choir for almost 70 years. He was a member of the Exchange Club and sang with the Casey Jones Barbershop Chorus.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Bill Reitzammer in 1974.

He is survived by his wife, Juanita; his brothers Paul Reitzammer of West Monroe LA, Penick Reitzammer of Hot Springs Village, AR, and Ed Reitzammer of Memphis, TN; one son, John Blake Reitzammer; John's wife, Elizabeth Powell Reitzammer; their daughter, Laurialan Blake Reitzammer, and their son, John Blake Reitzammer, Jr.

Visitation with the family will be held at the funeral home this afternoon from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM and resume on Monday at the church at 9:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to First Baptist Church.