Glen M. Reetz, 1926-2014: Contractor built hundreds of homes

7/6/2014

Glen M. Reetz, a native of northwest Ohio who built hundreds of local dwellings as the owner of Maumee Valley Builders, died on Thursday at his home in Maggie Valley, N.C. He was 88.

The cause of death was prostate cancer, said his wife, Marilyn Reetz.

“He was a very caring and compassionate person,” she said.

Born March 28, 1926, Mr. Reetz graduated from Perrysburg High School in 1944. After serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps, he attended Ohio State University, where he joined the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

After transferring he graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1950 with a degree in business administration.

Mr. Reetz, a general contractor by trade, was self-employed. He owned Maumee Valley Builders, which constructed hundreds of homes and apartments in greater Toledo. He was also a member of the Toledo Home Builders Association and the Toledo Board of Realtors.

When not working, Mr. Reetz was an avid sportsman. He played in several local softball leagues and coached a women’‍s team. He also served two terms as president of the Toledo Ski Club, the group where he met his wife. The pair married in 1970, and he eventually became a permanent member of the organization’‍s board of directors.

The Reetzes were members of the Nomads, a now-defunct travel club founded in 1965 and based in Detroit. In the early years of their marriage, they visited China, Egypt, and many other far-flung destinations, including an African safari.

The most memorable trip, Mrs. Reetz said, was a monthlong “adventure” in 1973 that took the pair around the world. She recalled that her husband especially enjoyed visiting Thailand, while she particularly remembers the sight of India’s Taj Mahal.

Later in life, Mr. Reetz was a committed volunteer and earned several awards for his volunteerism. He was also an avid reader and “big Buckeye fan,” according to his wife. The Reetzes regularly purchased Ohio State season tickets until 1996, when they moved to North Carolina upon Mr. Reetz’s retirement.

Though the Reetzes lived in both northwest Ohio and North Carolina, animals were a constant presence in their lives. Mrs. Reetz said they owned several different shih tzus in the 44 years they were married.

Mr. Reetz is survived by his wife. A celebration of his life is planned for a later date, but has not yet been scheduled.

Memorial donations can be made to Haywood Spay/​Neuter and MedWest Haywood Hospice, both in Haywood County, N.C.

Contact Marissa Medansky at: mmedansky@theblade.com or 419-724-6368.