Father John N. Reuther, a Consolata missionary priest, died Nov. 1, 2017, at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Williamsville. He was 79.

He was born Dec. 5, 1937, in Lackawanna, to P. Nelson and Evelyn (Peters) Reuther. He graduated from Father Baker High School in 1956 and received an associate's degree in poultry husbandry from the State Agricultural and Technical College in Alfred. He went on to work for more than a dozen local chicken farms.

In 1963, while studying at the University of Georgia, he decided to pursue the priesthood. He moved north to enter Holy Apostles Seminary for Adult Vocations in Cromwell, Conn., where he became acquainted with the local Consolata missionaries and decided to join their order.

After earning his bachelor's degree in 1968, he became a novitiate in Williamsville. He was ordained in 1973, at SS. Peter and Paul Church in Hamburg, after studying theology at St. Paul's College in Washington, D.C., and went on to serve as an administrator at Consolata House of Studies in Pittsburgh.

In 1977, he returned to Williamsville to serve at Consolata Seminary, after which he lived as a priest at Consolata Community House. During this time, he also served at Holy Family Parish in Albion, Our Lady of Peace in Clarence, St. Pius X in Getzville and SS. Peter and Paul in Williamsville.

At the time of his death, Father Reuther had been serving as a part-time chaplain for the Sisters of St. Joseph in Clarence since 2010.

In addition to his service in local parishes, Father Reuther was a member of the People of Praise charismatic prayer group and participated in marriage renewal programs for 12 years. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Hamburg Council 2220, serving as the group's chaplain for 14 years.

He was the nephew of Margaret Peters, and the cousin of Raymond and David Durni, Joanne Turnwall, Lisa Fahrenholz and Michael Osborne.

A funeral Mass was held at SS. Peter and Paul Church in Hamburg.