Jeffrey S. Reynolds

Jeffrey Scott Reynolds, 55, passed away at his home in Plymouth on April 20, 2017. He was born Oct. 21, 1961 at Columbia, Missouri to Clifford and Harrietta (Young) Reynolds. He was baptized Dec. 10, 1961 in the Methodist Church at Hallsville, Missouri and confirmed in 1975 in the United Methodist Church at Tecumseh.

As the son of a United Methodist minister, he moved often during his childhood, living at Hallsville, Maywood, Nebraska, McCook, Johnson County and Red Bird Mission, Kentucky. He was a 1980 graduate of Tecumseh High School and served in the Nebraska National Guard from 1980 to 1986.

Jeff was united in marriage with Karen Grefe on June 28, 1986 at Zion Lutheran Church in Harbine, Nebraska. Two children were born to this union: a son, Curtis, and a daughter, Krista. The family became members of First Trinity Lutheran Church in May 2010.

Jeff was an entrepreneur at heart. Following high school, he worked at Knowles Music in Beatrice for several years. A stint as manager of the Farmers Co-op Country Store in Plymouth and Daykin prepared him for owning and operating Reynolds General Store in Fairbury. On the side, he tuned and repaired pianos and restored player pianos. In 1994, Jeff was hired as a field representative for the Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP), a division of the Center for Rural Affairs. He was serving as program director at the time of his death.

Music was a passion. Jeff played in several rock bands in high school, and was a member of the Fancy Free Band, along with his wife Karen, from 1982 until 1996. The band reunited for a "reunion tour" in the summer of 2012. As the husband of a music teacher, Jeff volunteered many hours by assisting the music department at Tri County Schools.

Baseball was another one of Jeff's passions: specifically, Tri County American Legion baseball. He and his neighbor, Bill Waltz, founded the Tri County Legion Baseball Organization in 1994 and served for 23 years as president of the organization until his death. Under his leadership, Cody Parkegion Field was constructed and the ballpark was the site district and state tournaments.

Jeff was preceded in death by a brother, William "Bill" Reynolds, a sister-in-law, Mary Lee Grefe; and a brother-in-law, Wayne Reith.

Survivors include his wife Karen; son, Curtis, of New York City; daughter, Krista; his parents, Clifford and Harrietta Reynolds, of Beatrice; his sister, Jennifer (Clark) Bauer, of Minden; his brother, Andrew (Heidi), of Norfolk;  his parents-in-law, Alwin and Rosella Grefe, of Plymouth; his sisters-in law, Linda Grefe of Fairbury and Barbara (Don) Ruhnke of Fairbury; nieces and nephews: Hallie (Chad) Hartman of Gibbon, Carlie and Alexandra Bauer of Minden, Natalie, Sydney and Ashlyn Reynolds of Norfolk, Stephanie (Bruce) Wetter of Washington, Kansas, and Tim (Kendra) Reith of Minden, and many other relative and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at First Trinity Lutheran Church, in rural Beatrice, with Reverend Timothy Wagner officiating. Burial of ashes will take place in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, in rural Plymouth. Visitation will be Monday from noon-5 p.m. and Tuesday 9 a.m.-9 p.m. at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice, with family greeting family and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. A family prayer service is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to Tri County Legion Baseball Organization and Tri County Education Foundation (to establish a new scholarship) with church elders in charge. Sign Jeffrey's online guest book at www.ghchapel.com.

Services entrusted to Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice.