Willard Norman Reeve

Willard Norman “Bill” Reeve was born January 23, 1928 in Geneva, Illinois to Norman and Janet (Sampson) Reeve. Bill’s parents divorced when he was very young, so he never really knew his father. His mother remarried Eugene Bailey, whom he came to admire. Bill also gained a step-brother, Bob, and later a half-sister, Alice. As a young boy, Bill enjoyed playing Monopoly, watching baseball and basketball, playing football, and going to movies. He graduated from Lyons Township High School in 1946, and then joined the United States Marine Corps. He went through basic training at Paris Island, South Carolina, and was stationed 18 months in Guam. After his honorable discharge in August 1948, Bill attended Kalamazoo College in Michigan, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree, graduating in 1952. Bill worked for over 35 years for Western Electric as a Supervisor before his retirement in 1987. He continued part-time work on contract throughout the Midwest for several years. In his free time, Bill enjoyed bowling, gardening, playing tennis, boating, and watching Husker football/basketball. In more recent years, Bill’s interests included stained glass artistry, bird watching, archaeology, and genealogy. Bill enjoyed his regional travels with a bird-watching group from Fontanelle Forest. Bill married Delores “Dee” (Christensen) Klemz on June 18, 1966 at First Lutheran Church in Papillion. Already a father to two young children, Kent and Judy, Bill quickly became a father to Dee’s five young children; Charles, Carolyn, Craig, Chris, and Cynthia. After three years of marriage, daughter Catherine was born. The family resided in Omaha until relocating to Valley in 1978. Bill and Dee lived at Ginger Cove Lake for 22 years. In Valley, they were actively involved with St. Mark’s Lutheran Church where Bill’s stained glass window now hangs. Bill and Dee also enjoyed extensive national and international travel. Warmer weather took them to Tampa, FL in 2000, where they lived for 6 years. They returned to Omaha in 2006. Bill died Friday, November 14, 2014 in Omaha, Nebraska at the age 86. He is survived by his wife Delores “Dee”, sons: Kent (Erin) Reeve, Charles (Kathy) Klemz, Craig (Kathy) Klemz, Chris Klemz, daughters: Catherine (Chris) Johnson, Judy Underwood, Carolyn Chaffin (Jeff), and Cynthia (Gary) Guth, 15 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren. Willard N. “Bill” Reeve, age 86, of Omaha, died 11/14/14. Beloved husband, father, and grandfather. 35 year employee of Western Electric. Survived by wife Delores “Dee”, sons: Kent (Erin) Reeve, Charles (Kathy) Klemz, Craig (Kathy) Klemz, Chris Klemz, daughters: Catherine (Chris) Johnson, Judy Underwood, Carolyn (Jeff) Chaffin, and Cynthia (Gary) Guth, 15 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren. Memorial service 3 PM Sunday, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Valley with a reception to follow. Private interment. Memorials to Alzheimer’s Research or the church.

Willard Norman Reeve

January 23, 1928 - November 14, 2014