Willis D. Reeves

Memorial services for Willis D. Reeves, 85, of Madison will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 20, 2019, at Home for Funerals Chapel, 708 Georgia Ave, Norfolk.  Visitation will be Friday from 4-7 p.m. at Home for Funerals Chapel, Norfolk, Nebraska.

            Willis passed from this earth on Thursday, July 11, 2019 at his home.

Willis was born April 5, 1934 in Norfolk, Nebraska to William and Mary (Dather) Reeves. He grew up on the family farm and attended Fairview District 88 country school from grades K-8.  Willis graduated from Madison High School in 1952, entered the United States Army and received an honorable discharge November 22, 1954.  Willis attended Midland College in Fremont and later worked for Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha.

Willis married Fern J. Nahrstedt and they returned to Madison to farm ultimately settling on the family farms. They had three children (Clint, Cindy and Clayt). Willis later married Ann L. Ewing and they had one child (Chris). Willis retired from farming in 1996.

Willis was a farmer who enjoyed, flying, hunting and he always had a hunting dog, restoring old tractors and doing anything mechanical.  He loved spending time with his family and friends.  He was a member of the Fairview Methodist Church where he chose to be baptized as an adult.  He served on the Battle Creek Rural Electrification Association (REA) Board of Directors from 1967-1972.

Willis is survived by his wife Ann L. Ewing of Madison: his children Clinton W. (Anita) Reeves of Pleasant Hill, MO, Cynthia F. (Barry) Janzen of Longmont, CO, Clayton H. (Kay) Reeves of Springfield, NE, and Christopher J. Reeves of Severn Maryland: grandchildren Carisa M. (Zach) Kessler, Drew W. Janzen, Alexander L. Janzen, Kasey C. Reeves, and Kelsey L. Reeves; great granddaughter Brooklyn Kessler; nieces Patti (Donnie) White, Pam (Dan) Doty, Mary (Jim) Young, Billie (Bob) Mertz, Kris Reeves; nephews Steve (Shirley) Reeves, Jon (Janie) Reeves; and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother “Doc” E. Howard (Jean) Reeves, sister “Bim” Iola Elizabeth (Bill) Becker, nephew Mark Reeves and grandson Fletcher A. Reeves.

Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery at a later date.

 Service Information