We will miss our friend and his humor

It’s a sad day for us here at The Wayne Independent.

Dick Kreitner, who for 22 years has written his cooking column for this newspaper, is hanging up his spatula.

Kreitner’s columns will be missed greatly by our readers. He has featured many great recipes over the years and has made cooking a little more fun for people.

But beyond all of that, what will be missed most is his great sense of humor and wonderful personality. Each week, you just never knew what would be coming and that’s what has made is columns so popular over the years.

As part of our farewell salute to Kreitner, several members of the newspaper staff have written their feelings about him and are featured below.

We will miss you, Dick, and don’t be a stranger because there’s nothing like it when you walk through the door!

Here are some thoughts:
• Dick's contributions to the cultural life of our community have been many and varied - from his work with the Old Stone Jail to the Barbershoppers and the Boy Scouts - and through his column, he has enriched our kitchens as well!
Skip Mendler, circulation manager

• For 10 years Dick has made me smile. He is so upbeat, his sense of humor—he is so funny. People just love being around him. More than his delicious recipes, I will miss Dick's grand entrances to my office with his contagious smile and his wide open arms for a hug. My most memorable moment of Dick is the Valentine's Day when he and the Barbershop Quartet came in and sang to me! Thank you for sharing your knowledge of food but mostly your entertaining spirit and kindness, Dick!
Amy O’Hare, composing department manager

• I’ve only known Dick for about four months now, but I can tell you this — he’s good people. When he walks in the room, you can expect to get a hard time and that says it all. When someone gives you a hard time, it generally means they enjoy your company. We will miss having his column on the pages of this newspaper.
Greg Little, editor

• The two years I have known Mr. Kreitner have been an honor. His jocular nature, coupled with his love and knowledge of cooking have been a valuable asset to our newspaper and will be sorely missed. We will be hard pressed to find a person of his caliper who can not only provide entertainment, but recipes worth making at the same time.
Guy Mathews, multi-media sales representative

• There is no adequate way to describe my time spent with Dick.
His laugh, infectious smile, and overall charming personality could win over a slab of tough liver (with a side of burnt rice). The only man who could walk into the newsroom and yell “stop the presses” and incite not a riot, but a round of laughter, will sorely be missed. Between you and me though, I won’t miss having to figure out translations from his computer to mine. Those ? tsp. were my brain teasers from Dick... or it was an excuse to get me to call him.
Amanda Reed, composing department

• It has been a sincere pleasure having Kreitner’s Cooking Corner as a weekly feature of The Wayne Independent. As much as I and our readers will miss Dick’s column, we wish him the best in his well deserved “retirement.”
Michelle Hessling, publisher

• When Dick Kreitner dropped by the newsroom the other day to announce his retirement, I was both shocked and saddened. Dick has been a fixture on the Wayne County newspaper scene for more than 20 years. I’ve known him all my life...from childhood visits to his wonderful restaurant to shaking his hand as the Maple City’s beloved mayor. We were colleagues at the now defunct Weekly Almanac and were eventually reunited here at The Wayne Independent. Dick’s column has always been one of the best around. He takes great pains each week to come up with something informative and entertaining. Dick Kreitner is a great guy and a valued member of our staff. We’re going to miss him dearly as a fellow writer and as a friend.
Kevin Edwards, group sports editor