Willis Reynen, 1924-2015

Published 9:09 am Monday, January 12, 2015

Funeral services for Willis C. Reynen will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Hollandale Reformed Church. The Rev. Neal Ooms will officiate. Interment will be at Hollandale Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by local servicemen’s organizations, VFW and American Legion. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com. 

Willis Reynen

Willis died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Albert Lea.

Willis C. Reynen was born in Jasper County, Iowa, May 29, 1924, the son of John Dirk and Pearl Arentje (Roozendaal) Reynen. He attended Hollandale grade school and graduated from Albert Lea High School. After graduation Willis attended Central College in Pella, Iowa. Willis then enlisted in the United States Navy. He served in Pacific Theater during World War II. After his discharge he attended Harvard University and several other colleges before attending the University of Minnesota.

On July 15, 1947, Willis was united in marriage to Hazel Lucile Eastman in Garfield. Together they had two daughters, Lucile and Pauline. Willis enjoyed his work as a farmer. He was a PCA director, was on the watershed board, Moscow Township board, was a member of Kiwanis and was a member of Hollandale Reformed Church, where he had served as a deacon and elder.

On Feb. 2, 2001, Willis was united in marriage to Joan Kathryn (Fisher) Van Beek in Albert Lea. Willis enjoyed flying his private airplanes, reading, stained glass art and volunteering for the food bank. He especially enjoyed camping and traveling the world — Antarctica was the only continent he did not travel to. Most of all, Willis enjoyed time spent with his family and taking his grandchildren to Helmer Myre Park.

Survivors include his wife, Joan; daughters Lucile Reynen and Pauline (Allan) Ravenhorst; stepsons Lee Van Beek and Glenn Van Beek; grandchildren Joshua (Tina) Woita, Rachel Woita, Mike (Betsy) Ravenhorst, Jeff (Stacie) Ravenhorst, Dan (Holly) Ravenhorst and Amy (Adam) Wacholz; step-grandchildren Samantha Van Beek and Blake Van Beek; great-grandchildren Alex Woita, Paige and Payton Leibeg, Evelyn Ravenhorst, Leah and Lucas Ravenhorst, Ellery, Ethan and Gerrit Ravenhorst and Brinley Wacholz; step-great-grandchild, Aja Syrmopoulos; brothers Albert (Doris) Reynen and John (Judy) Reynen; sisters Betty Mondeel, Bernice (Martin) Ferwerda, Marge (Bob) Anderson and Jane (Larry) Suntken; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Willis was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Hazel; sister, Antoinette Elbring; brother, John Dirk, in infancy; brother-in-law, Arent Mondeel; and sister and brother-in-law Doris and Bazle Fischer.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hollandale Reformed Church, The Rock or Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea Hospice.