Lawrence Edward REIF

REIF, GEHRINGER, MOORE, MCCOY, LOOPS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/27/2007 at 10:59:34

September 6, 2007

Lawrence "Larry" Edward Reif, 58, of Sperry, died on Friday, August 31, 2007. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, September 5, at the St. Mary's Catholic Church, Dodgeville, Iowa. Fr. David Steinie and Fr. Patrick Hilgendorf officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Graveside military rites were conducted by Post 243 of the American Legion.

Lawrence Edward Reif, was born on December 13, 1948 at Burlington, the son of Clifford George Reif Sr. and Mary Magdaline Gehringer Reif. He graduated from the Mediapolis High School in 1967 and the Burlington Junior College. He joined the Naval Reserves in July of 1969 and was called into Active Duty aboard the USS Higbee during the Vietnam Conflict. He served on active duty until July 1971 and was Honorably Discharged in July 1975. He attained the class of YN3 and received the National Defense Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and Vietnam Campaign Ribbon.

He and Michelle Moore were married on June 12, 1976 at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dodgeville. Upon returning to civilian ranks, he was engaged in the farming operation of Reif Farmers Ltd. with his brother, Clifford Jr. In 1982 he joined the Reif Oil Company where he was employed as the fuel oil tank wagon driver and the General Manager of Maintenance, until the time of his death. He was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church, Dodgeville, where he was the Parish Council President, Cemetery Board Secretary and a member of the Finance Committee. He served on the Board of Directors of the Sperry Union Store & Elevator and was secretary of Franidin Township. He was a member and treasurer of Diamond Lodge #326 IOOF in Sperry and Post #243 of the American Legion in Mediapolis.

He is survived by his wife, Michelle of Sperry; two daughters, Maria and Alison Reif, both of Sperry; two sons, James Reif and wife, Andrea of Mediapolis and Andrew Reif of Sperry; two brothers, Clifford Reif Jr. and Kenneth Reif, both of Burlington; three sisters, Carolyn Reif of Dubuque, Delores McCoy of Iowa City and Mary Christine Loops and husband, Herb of North Liberty; 17 nieces and nephews; two great-nieces; three great-nephews; and parents-in-law, James R. and Marjorie Moore of Clarion. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, James and Thomas; and one sister, Dorothy.

© Wright County Monitor 2007