Clarence “C.J.” Reither, 101, of Jacksonville died Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at his home.
    He was born March 22, 1920, the son of Fred Gottlieb and Lydia Kingston Reither. He married Vera Merz on Jan. 9, 1949, in Beardstown, and she survives.
    He is also survived by two daughters and two sons, Karen (William Wallace) Reither of St. Paul, MN, Mark (Kathryn) Reither of Macomb, MI, Gwen (Tom) Schumacher of Plymouth, IN, and Paul Reither of Jacksonville; six grandchildren, Jonathon (Adrian) Reither, Emily (Christopher) Stoll, Jacob (Stephanie) Schumacher, Sarah (Josh) Graham, Lauren Schumacher, and Lydia (Wade) Mathis; 12 great-grandchildren; one niece; and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and four brothers, Virgil, Ralph, Charles, and Fred Reither.
    Mr. Reither was a 1938 graduate of Beardstown High School. He was a veteran of World War II, serving with the Army Air Corps in the European Theatre. He then began a 40-year career as a gas engineer with CIPS and later Ameren Illinois. He was a member of Salem Lutheran Church and a former member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Beardstown. C.J. was also a member of the Beardstown American Legion and VFW.
    A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 27, at Salem Lutheran Church with burial at Diamond Grove Cemetery. The family will meet friends 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to the service. Masks and social distancing are required.
    Memorials are suggested to Salem Lutheran School or the Salem Lutheran Church General Fund. The Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be left at buchanancody.com.