Father Leon Richard Reuter, O.F.M., passed away at St. Vincent Hospice Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Dec. 20, 2018, at the age of 83 years.

He was born on Feb. 3, 1935, and grew up on his family farm. He was one of twelve children born to Henry Reuter and Julia Reckel Reuter.

He attended eight years at St. Joseph Catholic School in Shelbyville, Ind., and then entered St. Joseph Junior High School and Seminary in Oakbrook, Illinois. He was ordained in 1962 and his first assignment on June 13, 1962, was at St. Francis parish in Quincy, Ill. He taught at Notre Dame High School and then went to Corpus Christi parish in Chicago, Ill. Several years later, he moved to Ohio to teach at Padue High School.

He did ministry in parishes in Wisconsin and Missouri. He earned a master's degree in Urban Studies in 1973 from Cleveland State University. After he retired from active service, he came back to St. Joseph parish in Shelbyville, Ind., where he assisted the pastors of several churches in duties of Replacement Ministry. He was a member of the St. Louis-based Sacred Heart Province of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor.

He is survived by his sisters, Angela Miner of Shelbyville, Ind., Eileen (James) Blatz, of Indianapolis, Ind., and Rosann Schonfeld, of Fairland, Ind., along with brothers, Alfred (Margaret) Reuter, of Shelbyville, Ind., and Francis Reuter, of Indianapolis, Ind.; brother-in-law, Wilbur Hoeing, of Rushville, Ind.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Julia Reuter, brothers, Charles Reuter, Robert Reuter, Harold Reuter, brother-in-law, Frank Schonfeld, sister, Juliann Hoeing, and sister-in-law, Dolores Zobel Reuter.

In his spare time, he enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, picking persimmons, hunting, fishing, shooting hoops, riding his bicycle, and reading the daily paper.

The visitation will be on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shelbyville, Ind., from 4 to 7 p.m., with rosary immediately following.

The Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. on Dec. 27, 2018, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shelbyville, Ind.

Interment will be held following the funeral mass at St. Joseph Cemetery in Shelbyville, Ind.

Funeral Directors Greg, Sheila and Stuart Parks are honored to serve the Reuter family.

Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.