John Reist

John Reist was a major influence on my life as a student at NCC in the 70's. He was my advisor and as such supported me both academically and emotionally during my tenure. I remember two things vividly. I lost my father during the summer between my sophomore and junior year. I decided to quit school. About a week after I let John know my plans, there was a knock at my front door in Oak Park. There stood John with Bill Naumann and Leila Rumbaugh. They came to try to convince me to come...

I've just learned of John Reist's death in the North Central College alumni news. Though we lost contact with each other after he left NCC, John was a very important person in my life, while I was studying there and after. I remember his enthusiasm and humor in the classroom. I admired his intellectual rigor and moral integrity. Especially important to me was his advice and support as I struggled with my conscience about the morality of military service during the Vietnam War. I remember...

I was deeply saddened to read of John's passing in the NCC Alumni magazine. He was a dear friend of my parents, Hank and Nonie Skoglund, and brought laughter to our house during the 3:00 coffee visits. My heartfelt sympathies to his family.

Signe Skoglund Prince, Arizona

Dr. John Reist was like a torch in a very dark night - wherever he went, the Logos was sure to be discussed in a manner that somehow left one more reverent of all good things, yet more grown up and less naive at the same time. You are gone, sir, but you are never forgotten. May his family remember him, and tell stories of his life, which was a greater Life, as long as human memory lasts.

Dr. Reist was a fine personal friend and will be missed by all. He was such an asset to all who knew him. Godspeed my friend. Dorothy Swan

Dr. Reist was my favorite professor at Hillsdale College. Every class I took with him, he was so full of energy, humor, and passion. We often followed wild and winding tangents in discussions, but Dr. Reist was always able to show us how everything and every part of life is connected. Though we never did find out the true story of how he met his wife :), it was always clear that his family was his greatest treasure on earth. He will always be fondly remembered by myself and all his students....

I am very sorry that we have lost the Rev. John Reist. I had the pleasure of serving as a fellow minister with John in the south central Michigan area. I was a new minister to that area in 2007 and Dr. Reist served on my ordination council. We visited some together after I came to the area and I am saddened that his life ended too early. I would like to express my sympathy to his family.

Rev. Steve DeGangi
Peterson, Iowa

When I was in Dr. Reist's English 101 class at Hillsdale, he asked me to revise my first paper. We met in his office and he told me what he expected. Then he said, "If you do all that and give me $50 you'll get a better grade." So I revised the paper and when I handed it in, attached a voided $50 check. He laughed out loud and said nobody had ever done that before. I went into his office at some point the next year and he still had the check in there.