Roy W. Reabe
Roy W.
Reabe, 94, passed away Sunday, May 24, 2015 at his home in Waupun, with his
wife and family at his side.
Roy was born
February 28, 1921 in Otter Tail County, MN the son of Frank W. and Lottie J.
Severson Reabe. As a young child Roy and
his family moved to the Iron Ridge/Mayville area. Roy married Helen Hilbert on June 10, 1947 in
Mayville, WI. Roy’s lifelong interest was aviation, beginning at age 6 when he
went for his first plane ride in an open cockpit barnstormer. He began to realize his dream by learning to
fly in Waukesha, WI. Roy served his
country during WWII as a flight instructor, fighter aircraft delivery pilot,
and flying troops and supplies over the Himalayan Mountains between India and
China. He returned in January 1946 and opened the Waupun Airport. Roy provided flight instruction, charter,
fire patrol and crop spraying services while Helen took care of the office. In
1966 Roy and Helen expanded the business into Plainfield and Plover, WI. Roy’s four sons and one grandson continue his
aviation legacy today operating Reabe Spraying Service in Waupun, Plainfield
and Plover, WI. Roy was inducted into the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame and
received both the Federal Aviation Administration Master Pilot and Master
Mechanic Awards. Roy accumulated over
30,000 hours of flight time and taught over 1000 people to fly including his
four sons and five of his grandchildren.
He often said, “I was very fortunate to earn a living doing what I love.”
If one word could describe what was most important to Roy, it would be
“family”. His greatest joy in life was
spending time with Helen, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He and Helen went to great lengths to instill
family values, integrity and an intense work ethic into all of their lives.
Roy is
survived by his wife of 68 years, Helen; a daughter, Bonita Rosenthal (David
Vandre) of Almond, WI; four sons: Thomas (Jill) Reabe of Waupun and their sons,
Damon & Nathan; J.R. (Teresa) Reabe of Plover and their children, Matthew,
Brent, Christa, Sarah, and Becky; Jeffrey (Marcie) Reabe of Plainfield and
their children, Gretchen, Troy, Heath, and Tyler; and Robert Reabe of Waupun;
17 great-grandchildren; and numerous relatives and friends.
He was preceded
in death by his parents; two brothers: Gordon Reabe and Lawrence Severson; four
sisters: Helen Scharnell, Fern Justman, Jeannette Steger and Opal Pankow; brothers-in-law: Frank Scharnell and Norbert
Justman; sister-in-law, Eleanor Severson; grandson, Joshua Reabe; and
daughter-in-law, Diana Reabe.
The family
thanks the in-home caregivers for their dedication and the loving care they
provided. Memorials may be directed to
Agnesian Hospice Hope in Fond du Lac, WI.
Funeral
services for Roy Reabe will be held Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Immanuel
Lutheran Church in Waupun with Rev. Lee Zortman officiating. Burial will follow
at Forest Mound Cemetery in Waupun where military rites will be provided by
American Legion Post 210. Friends and
relatives may call on the family on Friday at the Werner-Harmsen Funeral Home
in Waupun from 4-7 p.m. and on Saturday at the church from 9 a.m. to the time
of the service.
Werner-Harmsen
Funeral Home of Waupun is serving the family.
Visit www.wernerharmsenfuneralhome.com for further information and to
send condolences.