Carl “Kim” Reuter, 62, of Kingsford, passed away Thursday, July 26, 2012, at his home following a lengthy and very courageous battle with melanoma.
Kim was born April 9, 1950, in Duluth, Minn., the son of Gloria (McBride) Reuter and the late Carl N. Reuter.
He completed all of his schooling in International Falls, Minn., graduating from Falls Senior High School in 1968 and continuing his education at Rainy River State Junior College where he earned an associate of arts degree.
He served for six years in the United States Army Reserves.
Kim married Sharon Boomgaarden on July 6, 1974, at Zion Lutheran Church in International Falls.
He started his career as a papermaker at the Boise Cascade paper mill in International Falls. In 1975, Kim began an apprenticeship program to become a millwright. He continued working at Boise Cascade until the mill shut down in December of 1984.
Kim and his family moved to this area in 1985 when he took a position with Champion International in Quinnesec where he was employed until leaving for health reasons in 2005.
He was an active member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Quinnesec where he served on the church council.
Kim played hockey throughout his youth and in college and his love of the game led to his involvement in the Dickinson Amateur Hockey Association (DAHA) where he served as a board member and coach. He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed following and coaching his children’s sporting events.
He was also a faithful fan of the Minnesota Vikings and Twins and the Detroit Red Wings.
Kim enjoyed many things including traveling, hunting, fishing, making maple syrup, woodworking, canning, smoking meats, cooking and spending time at camp, which was his favorite place to be.
Most of all he loved being near his family and absolutely adored his four sweet granddaughters as much as they adored him.
He was a very talented handyman and could build or fix just about anything.
He even taught himself to quilt and enjoyed “building” quilts for his granddaughters.
Kim was a very personable man who enjoyed socializing and he never met a stranger. He always kept a positive and optimistic outlook on life and was a caring husband, father and “Buppa.” The lessons he taught his children will be carried on in their lives and his memory will remain in the hearts of those he loved. He had a lasting impact on everyone with whom he crossed paths, if even for a brief time.
Kim is survived by his wife of 38 years, Sharon; two sons, Justin (Jaime) Reuter of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Troy Reuter of Menominee; a daughter, Kami (Ryan) Rossler of Lake City, Mich.; four granddaughters, Addison and Brooklyn Reuter and Jessa and Landri Rossler; his mother, Gloria Reuter of International Falls; a brother, Chuck (Reenie) Reuter of Deer River, MN; a sister, Kathy (Jim) Miggins of International Falls; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, many special friends, and his Golden Retriever, “Maggie.”
He was preceded in death by his father, Carl N. Reuter and his mother and father-in-law, Ione and Dewayne Boomgaarden.
Visitation was from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, at Calvary Lutheran Church, Quinnesec.
Memorial services followed at 3 at the church. Pastor Kate Schruba and Cynthia Cowen, LLM officiated.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established in Kim’s memory.
Condolences may be expressed to the family of Carl “Kim” Reuter online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.
The family entrusted the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.
