Paul A. Riederraft

Paul A. Rieder, 88, of Fond du Lac, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at home with family by his side. He was born November 23, 1934, to the late Raymond and Isabelle (Bleuel) Rieder in the Town of Calumet.

Paul married Patricia Watry on June 30, 1956, at St. Ann Catholic Church in St. Anna.

Paul graduated from Fond du Lac High School in 1953. He was drafted to play baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals farm team in Johnson City, TN. Paul volunteered his time to the U.S. Army in 1954. He served two years with most of the time in Germany. Paul worked at Medalist before starting his industrial sewing company, OTCO, Inc., in 1988, which he owned until selling to his son, Dan in 2003. OTCO, Inc. is celebrating 35 years in business this year. After retirement, Paul and Pat started spending their winters in Punta Gorda, FL. They met many new friends during their winters and entertained their relatives.

Paul loved baseball. He played anytime he could. He played while in the Army as well as many different leagues in WI and FL. He played baseball and basketball in the Eastshore League. Later, he played softball in Fond du Lac nightly for many years. Paul gained the nickname “Whitey” from his teammates. Paul enjoyed bowling and playing cards with family. Paul was the “jack of all trades.” He could fix anything. If anyone needed a hand, Paul was there. Paul’s greatest passion was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Paul is survived by the love of his life, Pat; six children, Daniel (Mary), Thomas (fiancé Diane), Barbara (Steven) Dilling, Anthony (Carla), Mary (Jon) Vollmer and Joseph (Gina); 19 grandchildren, Joshua (Sarah) Rieder, Heather (special friend Adam) Stange, Jessica (Jarrod) Scheunemann, Rebecca (Andrew) Topham, Joshua (Mary) and Cody (Alivia) Repovsch; Elizabeth (Garrett) LaBerge, Matthew (special friend Sara) and Mark Dilling; Reuben (Julia), Olivia, Emma, Gracie, and Agatha Rieder; Brett (Becca), Brice (fiancé Maria), and Blaine Vollmer; Trent and Travis (Brittany) Rieder; 16 great grandchildren; his siblings, Connie Huebschmann, Marvin (Marie), Adeline (Jon) Austin, David (Carol), John (Deb); brothers and sisters-in-law, Sally Rieder and Dorothy Rieder, Millie Vogel, Bernadine Halbach, Lorraine (Peter) Winkel and Joanne Thome; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Isadore and Magdaline (Karls) Watry; his siblings, Orville, Lester and Mary Rieder; brothers and sisters-in-law, Elroy Huebschmann, Lucille (Edward) Halbach, Clarence Watry, Leona (Robert) Ortlieb, Angeline (Henry) Schuh, Raymond Vogel, Jerome (Jackie) Watry, Dolores (James) Halbach, Edmund Halbach and Ellsworth “Moose” Thome.

Visitation: Paul’s family will receive relatives and friends for visitation on Monday, May 15, 2023, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Zacherl Funeral Home, 875 E. Division Street in Fond du Lac. Visitation will also be on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at Holy Family Church, 271 4th Street Way in Fond du Lac.

Service: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Holy Family Church. Entombment will take place at Ledgeview Memorial Park with military honors.

“The family would like to give their heartfelt gratitude to the nurses and staff at SSM Healthcare Home Hospice for their care and compassion given to Paul and the family.”