David LeRoy Reynen, 72

Published 9:54 am Tuesday, December 23, 2014

David LeRoy Reynen, 72, went home to be with Jesus on Dec. 20, 2014, after a 7 1/2 year battle with Lewy Body Dementia.

Reynen

Reynen

He will be remembered for his deep faith in Christ, his love for his family and his care for others. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandpa.

The son of Henry and Henrietta Reynen, he was born on July 6, 1942 in Albert Lea, Minnesota. He attended grade school in Hollandale, Minnesota, where he met and fell in love with Joyce DeVries, and attended high school in Albert Lea, Minnesota. He enjoyed playing football, playing the trombone, and dating Jo. He married his childhood sweetheart on Aug. 12, 1961. Dave attended Central College in Pella, lowa, graduating with a bachelor degree in business and economics, continuing his education and receiving his CPCU designation in 1972. He was an owner and partner of a successful insurance agency and was a highly-respected insurance agent in Austin, Minnesota, for 42 years, until he retired in 2007. He served as president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Minnesota from 1979 to 1980.

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Dave was a charter member of Bethlehem Free Methodist Church and was a faithful and active member his whole adult life. He was a very compelling adult Sunday school teacher who challenged his class to grow deeper in their faith. He was involved in leadership in many ways. He invested a lot of time and energy in the community by being involved in CBMC, the Rotary Club, the YMCA Board, the Salvation Army Board and SCORE.

His interests included: woodworking; fishing; working in the yard; tending his pasture, the fences, and the horses; gardening; and traveling with Jo. Dave’s greatest joy came from being with his family. Their favorite memories are vacations up north, Bearsy Wearsy stories, and times laughing and talking in the kitchen. He was a great conversationalist, always encouraging, funny, and supportive of his kids’ and grandkids’ endeavors. He will be greatly missed.

Dave is survived by his wife Joyce; four children and their spouses: Michael and Vickie Reynen of Nairobi, Kenya, Michael and Marsha Wilder of Minnetonka, Minnesota, Mark and Tracey Reynen of Austin, Minnesota, Marla and Bob Peters of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; 12 grandchildren: Kelly and Kyle Reynen, Kenzie and Jamie Mahan, Rebekah, Mariah and Austin Wilder, Maxwell and Lillian Reynen, Nathan, Noah, Lydia and Eli Peters; mother Henrietta; sister and brother-in-law Esther and Marvin Wynia; sister-in-law Sharon King; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father Henry; brother and sister-in-law Robert and Patricia Reynen.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at 11 a.m. at the Bethlehem Church, 1500 4th Avenue SE, Austin, MN. Friends may call at the Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Sunday, Dec. 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. and at the church for one hour before the service on Monday morning. In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials.