Robert J. Reed
November 19, 1924 — October 6, 2014
Robert (Bob) James Reed, Sr. passed away on Sunday, October 5th, at the age of 89 at Luther Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo. Bob was born in Minneapolis, MN on November 19, 1924 to Carl and Madeline Reed. His family lived in Edina and he graduated from South West High School in Minneapolis. At the age of 18, he was introduced to and instantly fell in love with Dana Lorraine Kelsey. They were married on May 12th, 1945 in Hugo, Oklahoma and honeymooned in Paris, Texas. World War II was going on and Bob followed in his brothers’ footsteps and volunteered to enlist in the army. He moved up to Corporal and was on a ship heading to Pearl Harbor when the war was declared over. His ship turned around …then turned back again. He guarded Japanese prisoners as his assignment there.
Bob and Dana moved to Minneapolis and had 4 children…Robert Jr., Thomas, Marcia and Jack. They lived by Lake of the Isles and then later by Lake Harriet while Bob worked at the home office of Phillips 66 Petroleum Company in Minneapolis. He was promoted to District Sales Representative which relocated him to Montevideo where they had 2 more children; Jon and Holly. He was with Phillips Petroleum for 39 years. After retiring, he volunteered at Luther Haven Nursing Home and went back to school for his CNA license. He worked at Luther Haven as a CNA for 4 years. Outside of work, Bob was very involved in the community. He was a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society for 60+ years. In Minneapolis, he sang with the Minneapolis Commodores Chorus, the Lake Aires Quartet and formed a family quartet with his 3 oldest children called “3 Chips and the Block” that performed at various places including Northrop Auditorium. In Montevideo, he directed the Montevideo Sweet Adeline’s Chorus and the Fiesta City Barbershop Chorus. He formed the Music Makers quartet in 1959 where they enjoyed entertaining various audiences with their barbershop music and farmer comedy act routine all over the upper Midwest. He was also proud to be a member of the local Masonic Lodge (as a 32 Degree Mason), Scottish Rite, Eastern Star, Shriners and KCCH. Bob held various leadership titles in each of these groups. He was instrumental in getting the diabetes glucose monitors for our local school district and was a faithful chaperone for the elementary field trips to the Shrine Circus. He was a long standing member of First Congregational Church where he served on the Diaconate board, the Trustees, the Pastoral search committee, and instrumental to many of the church fundraisers. His other pastimes included golf, flower gardening, house projects, watching sports, and attending Barbershop and Sweet Adeline conventions with his family all over the US/Canada and most importantly, spending time with his family and other memorable family trips.
He is survived by his wife Dana (Kelsey) Reed of Montevideo, 6 children: Robert Reed Jr of Minneapolis, Thomas Reed of Minneapolis, Marcia (Reed) and Darrel Starnes of Minnetrista, Jack and Gay (Cliplef) Reed of Blufton, SC, Jon and Cathy (Hogfeldt) Reed of Claremont, Holly (Reed) and Mark Kilibarda of Montevideo; 14 Grandchildren: Christopher and Joy Reed, Antony and Carol Ann Reed, Jason Reed, Brittany Reed, Mona Reed, Eric and Tracy Johnson, Mike and Angie Brown-Reed, Cara and Chris Okupski, Cody Reed, Katelyn Reed, Adam Kilibarda, Derek Kilibarda, Madalyn Kilibarda, Landon Kilibarda. 5 Step Grandchildren: Bernadine (Starnes) and Tyler Englund, Brad and Linda Starnes, Brian Starnes, Brent and Denise Starnes and Brenda (Starnes) and Al Engel; 16 Great Grandchildren: Blake, Corwyn, Connor, Corbin, Breanna, Kaylee, Tyler, Cody, Matthew, Izabella, Aiden, Grace, Morgan, Taylor, Slater. 1 Step Great Grandchild: Micayla DeMuth; Brother Paul and Rhoda (Sandgren) Reed; Nephews: Carl (III) and Susan Reed, Paul David Reed. Nieces: Janet (Reed) and Jim Gilsdorf, Nancy and Bruce Markusen, Linda Reed and Patricia Reed.
He was preceded in death by: his parents, Carl Sr. and Madeline (Kohler) Reed; Brothers: John Reed, Carl and Bonnie (Nelson) Reed; Mother-in-law Florence (George) LaVerne and Father-in-law Bert Kelsey.
Bob and Dana moved to Minneapolis and had 4 children…Robert Jr., Thomas, Marcia and Jack. They lived by Lake of the Isles and then later by Lake Harriet while Bob worked at the home office of Phillips 66 Petroleum Company in Minneapolis. He was promoted to District Sales Representative which relocated him to Montevideo where they had 2 more children; Jon and Holly. He was with Phillips Petroleum for 39 years. After retiring, he volunteered at Luther Haven Nursing Home and went back to school for his CNA license. He worked at Luther Haven as a CNA for 4 years. Outside of work, Bob was very involved in the community. He was a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society for 60+ years. In Minneapolis, he sang with the Minneapolis Commodores Chorus, the Lake Aires Quartet and formed a family quartet with his 3 oldest children called “3 Chips and the Block” that performed at various places including Northrop Auditorium. In Montevideo, he directed the Montevideo Sweet Adeline’s Chorus and the Fiesta City Barbershop Chorus. He formed the Music Makers quartet in 1959 where they enjoyed entertaining various audiences with their barbershop music and farmer comedy act routine all over the upper Midwest. He was also proud to be a member of the local Masonic Lodge (as a 32 Degree Mason), Scottish Rite, Eastern Star, Shriners and KCCH. Bob held various leadership titles in each of these groups. He was instrumental in getting the diabetes glucose monitors for our local school district and was a faithful chaperone for the elementary field trips to the Shrine Circus. He was a long standing member of First Congregational Church where he served on the Diaconate board, the Trustees, the Pastoral search committee, and instrumental to many of the church fundraisers. His other pastimes included golf, flower gardening, house projects, watching sports, and attending Barbershop and Sweet Adeline conventions with his family all over the US/Canada and most importantly, spending time with his family and other memorable family trips.
He is survived by his wife Dana (Kelsey) Reed of Montevideo, 6 children: Robert Reed Jr of Minneapolis, Thomas Reed of Minneapolis, Marcia (Reed) and Darrel Starnes of Minnetrista, Jack and Gay (Cliplef) Reed of Blufton, SC, Jon and Cathy (Hogfeldt) Reed of Claremont, Holly (Reed) and Mark Kilibarda of Montevideo; 14 Grandchildren: Christopher and Joy Reed, Antony and Carol Ann Reed, Jason Reed, Brittany Reed, Mona Reed, Eric and Tracy Johnson, Mike and Angie Brown-Reed, Cara and Chris Okupski, Cody Reed, Katelyn Reed, Adam Kilibarda, Derek Kilibarda, Madalyn Kilibarda, Landon Kilibarda. 5 Step Grandchildren: Bernadine (Starnes) and Tyler Englund, Brad and Linda Starnes, Brian Starnes, Brent and Denise Starnes and Brenda (Starnes) and Al Engel; 16 Great Grandchildren: Blake, Corwyn, Connor, Corbin, Breanna, Kaylee, Tyler, Cody, Matthew, Izabella, Aiden, Grace, Morgan, Taylor, Slater. 1 Step Great Grandchild: Micayla DeMuth; Brother Paul and Rhoda (Sandgren) Reed; Nephews: Carl (III) and Susan Reed, Paul David Reed. Nieces: Janet (Reed) and Jim Gilsdorf, Nancy and Bruce Markusen, Linda Reed and Patricia Reed.
He was preceded in death by: his parents, Carl Sr. and Madeline (Kohler) Reed; Brothers: John Reed, Carl and Bonnie (Nelson) Reed; Mother-in-law Florence (George) LaVerne and Father-in-law Bert Kelsey.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert J. Reed, please visit our flower store.