Kenneth W. Reed

The Mass of Christian Burial for Kenneth W. Reed, 80, a longtime Stewartville, MN resident will be at 10:00 A.M. on Monday (September 16, 2019) at St. Bernards Catholic Church in Stewartville.  Rev. Kevin Connolly will officiate.  Burial with military graveside honors will take place at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston, MN. Mr. Reed passed away surrounded by his family on Wednesday (September 11, 2019) at Mayo Clinic Rochester – St. Mary’s Campus, following a short illness.

Kenneth Wayne Reed was born October 27, 1938 in Austin, MN to Kenneth “Bud” and Bernice (Wilson) Reed.  Later, he and his younger brother Gene, were raised on their great-uncle and aunt Sander and Emma Edgar’s farm in rural Sargeant.  As boys they attended a one room school house and Ken graduated from Austin H.S. in 1956.  After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army, completed basic training at Fort Chaffee, AK and served in an anti-aircraft battalion based in cold war Hanau, West Germany. Following his discharge in 1958, he returned to the Dexter area and worked in Sargeant, MN. Kenneth was married to Beverly Cleppe on October 29, 1960 in Brownsdale, MN at Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church. On their honeymoon Ken applied at IBM Rochester where he began his employment in December 1960 as a machinist. In 1966 they moved to their current home in Stewartville, where they raised their 3 children.

Ken had a 30-year career with IBM and worked there in a variety of positions. After retiring from IBM, he worked part-time at NAPA and House Chevrolet both in Stewartville. Beverly was a homemaker and also was employed at the Stewartville Star,  then IDS in Rochester followed by State Farm Insurance and Olmsted Medical Group in Stewartville. Ken was a member of St. Bernards Catholic Church, Hayfield American Legion Post 330 and was a member and active volunteer at the Stewartville Center for Active Adults, where he was a fixture at the weekday morning guys’ coffee table.

As a younger man he was an avid snowmobiler and outdoorsman, hunting pheasant and deer for years.  He did most of the mechanical work on his own cars and in the early 80’s fully restored a 1938 Chevrolet Coupe with his son Steve.  He enjoyed reading and was proud of the fact that all three of his children went to college and on to professional careers.  Ken was a proud grandfather and great-grandfather whose love for all of them was abundant.  He loved to hear stories of their school events, activities and accomplishments. He will be tremendously missed by a great many people.

He is survived by his wife, Beverly and children - Kathryn (Randy) Rupiper of Ankeny, IA, Steven (Teresa) Reed of San Marco, TX and James (Kathy) Reed of Elk River, MN;  5 grandchildren – Andrew (Abbey) Rupiper, Alicia Rupiper, Michael Reed, Connor Reed and Daniel Reed and 4 great grandchildren - Ava Rupiper, Reed Rupiper, Madison Maher, Delaney Maher;  sister - Judy Wood of California and sister- in- law - Bette Reed of Palmer, Alaska and nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his great aunt and uncle, his parents, his sister-Wilma Bender and his brother – Gene Reed.   

A time of visitation for family and friends will be held from 4 to 6:00 P.M. on Sunday (September 15, 2019) at Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville and 1 hr. prior to the service at the church on Monday morning. Condolences and memories of Ken are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com

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