John Arthur "Jack" Reid

GREENE - John Arthur Reid, 56, prominent Greene businessman and community leader, died on Tuesday, June 28, 2011, at Allen Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness he courageously fought.
Funeral dervices will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 2, at First Presbyterian Church in Greene with Pastor John Hanna officiating. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Greene.
Visitation will be 1-9 p.m. Friday at Reid's Funeral Chapel in Greene where there will be scripture service at 7:30 p.m. followed by public Masonic Services conducted by Vulcan Lodge 498 A.F. & A.M. of Bristow and Corner Stone Lodge 251 A.F. & A.M. of Marble Rock. There will be no visitation at the church.
John Arthur Reid was born Aug. 11, 1954, at Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, the son of Andrew and Mariette Oline (Einen) Reid.
As a child he lived in Madrid, Iowa, where he attended public schools, and in August 1961 he and his family moved to Greene where his father purchased the Hamilton Funeral Home. Jack continued his education in the Greene Public Schools and also attended Shattuck Military School in Faribault, Minn. He graduated from Greene High School in 1972.
Following graduation he worked at the Greene Recorder and attended NIACC. He later moved to Cedar Rapids where he worked for a printing company and John B. Turner Mortuary.
In 1974, he moved to Minneapolis where he graduated from the Dunwoody Industrial Institute in Graphic Arts and took courses at the University of Minnesota. He then moved to Montana where he was employed by the Yellowstone Enterprises.
In November 1976, he returned to Iowa settling in Marble Rock where he was engaged as city clerk. He later was employed by Wells Manufacturing Co. in Marble Rock. During this time he served on the Marble Rock City Council (1979-1984), was secretary-treasurer of the Marble Rock Community Fire Company, where he was instrumental in the building of the new Fire Station and the acquisition of new equipment. He served on the League of Iowa Municipalities Small Cities Advisory Committee as well as other regional boards and commissions.
He furthered his education at NIACC, graduating in 1982, and the following year graduated from the Mid America College of Funeral Service in Jeffersonville, Ind., where he was a member of Pi Sigma Eta Honor Fraternity. He returned to Greene and joined his father in the funeral business.
On Dec. 10, 1983, he was united in marriage to Marilyn Irene (Azbell) Thompson at the United Methodist Church in Marble Rock. They made their home in Marble Rock until moving to Greene in 1985. Following the death of his father in 1988, Jack purchased Reid's Funeral Chapel and operated it until his death.
He served on the Greene City Council (1986-1990) and was past president of the Greene Development Corp. and Greene Commercial Club. His community service earned him the Governor's Leadership Award, and he was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel. He was recognized in the Who's Who in Executives and Professionals in 1993.
Jack was a student of local and regional historym, having published a brief history of Greene. He was a member and contributor to the Marble Rock and Greene Historical Societies. As a pastime he enjoyed collecting local postcards and other related items as well as his passion for classic cars. He received much pleasure in the fishing trips up north with his family. Jack enjoyed his trips to Branson and smaller road trips around the state.
Mr. Reid was baptized at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Madrid on Oct. 3, 1954, and confirmed a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Greene, where he was ordained an Elder on Jan. 12, 1997.
He is a member of Cornerstone Lodge 251 A.F. & A.M. of Marble Rock, Vulcan Lodge 498 A.F. & A.M. of Bristow, Research Lodge 2 A.F. & A.M. of Des Moines, Scottish Rite Lodge of Perfection, Chapter of Rose Croix and Consistory in Cedar Rapids, Palestine Council No. 27 Royal and Select Masters, Trowel Chapter No. 49 Royal Arch Masons, Apollo Commandery No. 26 Knights Templar, Noble of the Mystic Shrine-El Kahir Temple Cedar Rapids, Court No. 139 Royal Order of Jesters, Franklin Chapter O.E.S.,Order of DeMolay, Loyal Order of the Moose 1328 of Mason City, Cedar Valley Legion of the Moose, Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, Marble Rock Lions Club, Marble Rock Community Improvement Association, Greene Volunteer Fire Department, Greene Community Chorus, Butler County Pheasants Forever and a former member of the Butler County Agricultural Extension Council. He was instrumental in starting the Patriots Day 4th of July Celebration and served as its chairman for many years.
He was a member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association and served on its Board of Governors and was a member of the National Funeral Directors Association. He received the Award of Excellence in Funeral Service from the state association.
Survivors include his loving wife, Marilyn of Greene; one son, Kelly James (Shirley) Thompson, Waterloo; two daughters, Heidi Lynn (Matthew) Buddenberg of Decorah and Kathryn Anne (Tyler) Eliason, Mason City; his grandchildren, Alanna and Kyle Thompson, Emma and Jace Buddenberg, and Ander Eliason; his mother, Mariette Reid of Greene; a sister, Elizabeth (Sam) Lazio, Davenport; two nephews, Joseph and Mark Lazio, Chicago, Ill.; one brother-in-law, Norman (Teresa) Azbell, Mason, Ohio; his dedicated staff and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Andrew Reid, and his aunt, Elizabeth Reid Peterson.
Those planning an expression of sympathy may be direct memorials to the Butler County Pheasants Forever Youth Hunt or the John Arthur Reid Scholarship Fund.
Services conducted by Reid's Funeral Chapel, 519 N. First St., Greene; 641-823-4457.