Bro. Cletus Wolfgang Riederer

Br. Cletus Riederer, OFM, a Franciscan Friar who spent half of his life as a missionary, died May 7 at Hospice of Cincinnati in Blue Ash. He was 82. Br. Riederer was a Minnesota native who joined the friars in 1953 and for 12 years was a handyman in Cincinnati, Southfield, Mich., and Centerville, Ohio. His heart was in the Philippines, where he served from 1965-2005, teaching religion, working in formation and finance, running a retreat house and supervising construction of schools, churches and convents. Back in the States, he ministered to the poor and homeless in Southfield, Mich., and Shreveport, La., before retiring to Cincinnati. He is survived by two sisters, Marie (Arnold) Hillesheim of Springfield, Minn., and Marlene (Tom) Johnson of New Ulm, Minn., sister-in-laws Lorell Riederer of Comfrey, Minn., and Mary Ann Riederer of Springfield, Minn., cousin Bernice Eckstein, and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Matilda Riederer, brothers James, Wilbert, John, Leonard, Gerald, Eugene and a sister, Alyce Sprenger. Friends will gather in his memory on Saturday, May 10, from 9:30 a.m. until a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Clement Church, 4536 VIne St., St. Bernard. Interment follows at St. Mary Cemetery in St. Bernard.