Jack Reeve

The Rev. Jack Vernon Reeve died Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, at St. Vincent Hospice, nearly two weeks after a disabling stroke. Jack was born Oct. 14, 1918, in Des Moines, IA, to Della and John (Vern) Reeve. Jack?s sister Ora and brother Harold predeceased him. EDUCATION Jack was the first in his family ever to attend college. He graduated from Drake University in 1941, and from seminary at University of Chicago in 1945. HIs ordination was in 1942. In seminary, he lived at Disciples Divinity House, and his connection with DDS continued throughout his life. In 1970, Jack was awarded an honory doctorate from Eureka College. MINISTRY Jack pastored churches first in Casper, WY (1945-51), then in Greeley, CO (1951-58), before his exceptional abilities earned him an invitation to join the national staff of the Disciples of Christ. From 1958 to 1968, Jack was the national Stewardship Director with Unified Promotion in Indianapolis, IN. Next, he served as Regional Minister for Disciples churches in Illinois and Wisconsin, with offices in Bloomington, IL (1968-78). In 1978, Jack became Professor of the Practice of Ministry at Lexington Theological Seminary in Kentucky. Jack was fi...[more]

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elected to the Board of Trustees of the Disciples Divinity House in 1968. He served as its president from 1990-92, and in 2005, was named an Honorary Trustee for Life. FAMILY In 1945, Jack married June Evelyn Varner of Colorado Springs. They enjoyed a partnership which lasted 62 years, until June?s death in 2007. ? Jay Alan, born in 1951 in Casper, WY, teaches Suzuki violin in Sioux Falls, SD. His wife, Katherine Peterson, shares his love of music. When their best friend died in 1996, they became parents to her 12-year-old son, Tristram Risk. ? Joy Dell, born in 1953, died in a driveway accident 16 months later. The way Jack and June accepted and dealt with Joy's loss proved inspirational to many people. ? Jill Anna, born in 1955 in Greeley, CO, is an insurance actuary in Carmel, IN. Her husband, Tom Kirk, also works in insurance. Jill and Tom have shouldered most of the burdens of elder care for the past ten years, for which the rest of the family is grateful. They have two sons: Kerry Alan, 25, and Kevin Thomas, 21. Kerry and Darlynn?s daughter, Journey Ernestine, 1, is Jack?s only great-grandchild. ? Joel Thomas, born in 1959 in Indianapolis, IN, married Sheryl Zug, who teaches students with special needs in Marion, Ohio. Joel worked as a piano teacher and piano tuner until he was disabled by a brain tumor in 2002. They have two sons: Tyler Andrew, 20, and Aaron Matthew, 17. Joel continues to enjoy life, and Sheryl?s loving patience in dealing with Joel?s disabilities has inspired both the family and their community. STEWARDSHIP Stewardship was the focus of Jack?s ministry, and he practiced what he preached. His stewardship extended not just to finances, but to many life-style choices. For most of his life, Jack walked or rode a bicycle anywhere that weather and distance permitted. His clothes and furnishings were typically recycled through garage sales or thrift shops. Jack was an accomplished do-it-yourselfer comfortable with plumbing, wiring, dry-wall, and vinyl siding. Jack participated actively in Habitat for Humanity, working on more than 40 houses in the Lexington area. The local paper dubbed him Habitat?s Energizer Bunny. Through frugal living, disciplined saving, and smart investing, Jack and June accumulated a sizeable nest egg, allowing Jack to make a bequest of $125,000 to Disciples Divinity House at UChicago after June?s death, and a similar bequest to Lexington Theological Seminary. TRAVEL Although Jack finished high school never having left the state of Iowa, he loved to travel. He took his young family on vacation trips across the US every summer, visiting all but a few of the continental states. In 1964, he and June were selected as fraternal delegates to England, where Jack spent six weeks consulting with British churches. They traveled again as fraternal delegates, in 1976, to South Africa, meeting with various church leaders there, including Bishop Desmond Tutu. In later years, Jack and June cruised to Alaska and toured Australia and New Zealand. Jack also enjoyed a Habitat work-expedition to Russia and an Elderhostel trip to India. PASSIONS In addition to his ministry and his family, Jack enjoyed nothing more than trout fishing in a high mountain stream. Jack and June worked together on a scrapbook record of their lives, filling some 14 volumes with photographs (most of which Jack took) and memorabilia. Jack also had a love for music that may partly explain all three of his children?s becoming musicians. Since June?s death, Jack has spent much of his free time reading and collecting articles on religion, philosophy, and politics that he found interesting or inspiring. SERVICE OF CELEBRATION A memorial service to celebrate Jack?s life is planned for 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 3, at Downe