John O. Reiber

John O Reiber, 89 of Huron, died Friday, March 2, 2007 at home, after a brief illness. He was born August 28, 1917 in Erie County, and lived the majority of his life in Vermilion Township. He graduated from Vermilion High School in 1935. After graduation, he sailed on the Great Lakes as a deck hand on the George R. Fink with his brother George. He also worked on his father's farm in Vermilion Township and in 1941 worked at TNT Plants in Sandusky and New Martinsville, West Virginia. While working in West Virginia, he met and married his former wife, Wilma Reiber (nee Duhl). He returned to Ohio and worked at the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, before returning to Vermilion Township in 1946 to begin operating his own farm. He was the owner/operator of Eggland Farms, Eggland Farm Market and also farmed 400 acres. During the peak years of his egg production operation, he produced over 4 million eggs per year and supplied eggs wholesale to restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets, hospitals and nursing homes from Sandusky to Westlake. He also provided retail sales at the farm where he pioneered a self serve honor system sales room. During the summer months he operated a roadside market providing fruit and vegetables and his famous sweet corm. After retiring from the egg business and crop farming in 1986, he began Eggland Boat Storage and stored boats in the empty chicken houses. He also hatched and raised pheasants for hunting. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf and bowling; bowling in several leagues in Huron and Vermilion where he also sponsored teams. He was a member of the Vermilion Evangelical and Reformed Church and a former member of the Mitiwanga Evangelical and Reformed Church. He was a member of the Ohio Farmers Association, Erie County Farm Bureau, and had served as a trustee for Shinrock Elevator. Survivors include two daughters, Sheryl D. Beach of Casper, WY and Darlene K. Barnett of Huron; son, John A. Reiber of Lorain; 5 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; two nieces, one nephew, great-nieces, great nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Henry and Katherine Elizabeth (nee Otto) Reiber, sisters, Katherine Burdue and Edna Reiber, a brother, George Reiber and grandson, John Henry Reiber III. Friends may call on Monday, March 5, 2007 from 5-8 pm at the Riddle Funeral Home, 5345 South Street, Vermilion, where services will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, March 6, 2007. The Reverend Bill Seith, interim pastor of Vermilion Evangelical and Reformed Church and retired pastor John Hood will officiate. Burial will follow in Peaks Cemetery, Berlin Township. Contributions may be made to the Vermilion E & R Church Memorial Fund, Ohio & Grand Streets, Vermilion, Ohio 44089 or to New Life Hospice, 5255 North Abbe Road, Elyria, Ohio 44035-1450.