Reynolds, Stanley John (1941-2022)

REYNOLDS, LINDGREN

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 7/10/2022 at 20:00:52

Stanley John Reynolds, while surrounded by family, passed away peacefully on July 6, 2022. Stanley J. was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota on June 12, 1941 to his parents Stanley Richard Reynolds and Evelyn Lindgren Reynolds. He was the youngest of six children: Edward, Richard, Gwen, Kathryn and Rita. When Stanley J. was 12 years old, his father passed away from a heart attack leaving the family in dire straights. Stanley J.’s mother took on two jobs. Helping out his mother, Stanley J. went to work at a local butcher shop working 35 hours a week while he was still attending school. He was a good student who accelerated in theatre, academics and tennis. He caddied at White Bear Lake Country Club in the summers where he developed his love for golf. He graduated from White Bear High in 1959 and started at the University of Minnesota where he became a proud member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Stanley J. was a speech and theatre major and in the summers, he was a camp director at Knob Hill Camp. With his trusted guitar in hand, he honed his singing and talents on a captive audience.

After graduating from college in 1964, Stan went to work for the 3M company where he became a sign and license plate material salesman calling on the states of Iowa and Nebraska. 3M transferred him to Des Moines in 1965 - he thought it was the end of the earth. That thought changed In 1967 when he met the love of his life, Joanne "Jody" Ahrold. Jody had just returned from serving in the Red Cross in Vietnam. They met on a ski trip to Telemark, Wisconsin and were engaged just four months later. Jody and Stan were married at Saint Augustine's church in Des Moines on March 9, 1968 ; honeymooned in Aspen, Colorado and started their family with the arrival of Stanley William in January of 1969; Suzanne - 1971; Bridgid - 1972; Erin - 1974; Patrick Brooks - 1976; and Kathryn - 1978.

Stan and Jody decided that they wanted to keep their family in Iowa so Stan went to work selling insurance for Jody's father at the Jack Ahrold Agency. Stan befriended a man in his breakfast club named Steve Blank whose family owned Central States Theatres - one of the biggest movie theatre chains in the country at the time. It's that spark that made Stan put together a program specifically designed for the movie theatre industry. In 1974 he attended a convention in San Diego for theatres and through his charm and intellect, Stan wrote the two largest movie theatre chains in the United States. In 1976 he decided to start his own insurance agency - Reynolds & Reynolds Inc (R&R). In subsequent years, R&R became the largest writer of movie theatre insurance in the country doing business with over 38% of the industry and getting the endorsement from the National Association of Movie Theatre Owners (NATO). Stan ran the company until its sale to USI insurance Services, LLC in August of 2021. He saw the company go from 2 employees to over 50 serving customers in all 50 states and Canada. He shared his profits every year with his employees with whom he considered his family.

Stan and Jody lost their daughter Bridgid in 1973 to complications from her birth a year earlier. The loss moved Stan, Mike Reilly, Ray Johnson and Steve Blank to re-start the struggling Variety Club Tent 15 in central Iowa. Stan, with the help of many others, started the Variety Club Telethon that was on WOI-TV 5 from 1974 until 2020 (which was cancelled due to Covid-19). The telethon has raised more than 120 million dollars for the children of Iowa. Variety - the Children's Charity of Iowa is one of the biggest Variety chapters in the world because of Stan, Jody, their children and the many volunteers that have given back to the kids of Iowa. With the success of Variety of Iowa, Stan went on to become Variety International President in 1989-1991. He served on the board with many of Hollywoods elites including his close friends and mentors, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Monty Hall. Stan met with many leaders including former President George H. W. Bush at the White House; hosted a dinner honoring Margret Thatcher in London and he and Jody had dinner at Buckingham Palace with HRH Prince Philip of England.

The best thing about Stan was the love and admiration he had for his wife Jody. They were truly best friends and enjoyed traveling with Jody’s “Vietnam War” girlfriends and other friends from around the world. Stan and Jody were also judges on the Miss World competition for many years.
They were both seasoned travelers even though Stan never learned to travel light. Sadly, Jody died after a battle with cancer on June 3, 2019. Part of Stan died that day too. Since that day, he took solace in his family and special dogs Lucy and Honey.

Stan has won many awards and has had accolades bestowed on him by many charities, business organizations and won the Bob Hope Golf Tournament in La Quinta , California in 2005. His biggest achievement was his children and grandchildren - son Stan W. Reynolds (fiancé Crystal Pelleymounter) and his children Caroline and Johnny; daughter Suzanne Arnold, husband Jake, and their sons Brooks, Cullen and William; daughter Bridgid (deceased); daughter Erin White and her daughter Caitlyn; son Patrick Brooks Reynolds (no fiancé but we're hoping); daughter Kathryn Diaz, husband Oscar, and their daughters Marilyn and Roxanne. Stan was also blessed by all of his family and friends around the world.

In the days before his passing he asked if he was a good man.
He was.

Vistation will be at Dunn’s Funeral Home, 2121 Grand Avenue; Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 from 4-7pm.
Church service will be at Central Presbyterian Church, 3829 Grand Avenue.; Des Moines, Iowa on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 10:00am.
Private family graveside
Luncheon will be at Wakonda Club, 3915 Fleur Drive; Des Moines, Iowa at 11:30am.