Gary Logan Reif

Rev. Dr. Gary Logan Reif, 87 of West Lafayette, passed away on Sunday, June 8, 2025 at his residence. He was born on August 1, 1937, the first of four sons to Logan and Helen (Osborn) Reif in Kalona, Iowa. In his early years he was nurtured not only by his parents, but by grandparents who took great delight in him. At the age of five he became the fifth generation to "work" in the family store and sold peanuts from barrels to the many Amish customers. As he matured, he acquired many other skills to help out, including doing the bookkeeping when the clerk of the store was on vacation.
From childhood Gary was active in the local Baptist Church and the Baptist Youth Fellowship (BYF), eventually becoming the state President of the Iowa BYF. He visited many churches within the state and even began preaching in some of the smaller churches. While he loved the family store and could have continued the family presence there, by his teenage years he knew God was calling him to Christian ministry.
He graduated from Kalona High School, in a class of 15 students and enrolled at Sioux Falls College in South Dakota, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. Here he met Barbara Maloney, they were married in 1959 and began a journey of Christian service together. Gary attended Berkeley Baptist Divinity School in California for seminary, graduating four years later with a Bachelor of Divinity degree. During seminary he served as Youth Minister in Burlingame, CA and did a year internship establishing Baptist Campus Ministry at Fresno State. In 1963, he was ordained by the United Christian and Baptist Church of Kalona, his home church, which had united the year he went to college. The day of the ordination the church was struck by lightening and caught fire, making it necessary to hold the ordination service in the Methodist Church. Gary always thought this was an early sign of his ministry which was always ecumenical.
In 1963, he was called to the First Baptist Church in Monmouth, IL. Two children joined the family the five years while he was there – David Dean and three years later Diana Dawn. First Baptist church of Waterloo, Iowa, was home for the next five years and Dirk Douglas joined the family. While there, Gary was honored by the Waterloo Downtown Council and named Waterloo Father of the Year. In 1974, the Federated Church, West Lafayette, IN, a church uniting American Baptists and Disciples of Christ congregations, extended a call to Gary. He served there as Senior Minister for 15 years. During 11 years of that time Gary pursued a second graduate degree, the Doctorate of the Science of Theology, STD, at the San Francisco Theological Seminary, through a program that merged in- parish research with summer sessions. During the 1990s Dr. Reif was Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church, Peoria, IL and Area Minister for American Baptists of the Great Rivers Region. In retirement Gary served in several interim roles, the longest of which was as Chaplain of Westminster Village in West Lafayette for nine and a half years.
Gary's love of God, the church and people equipped him well for the role of pastor. He was a master of meeting persons as they were and helping them to discover God's place in their lives. He encouraged others to discover their unique gifts, to use them in leadership in the church and community. He trained several church members to become Stephen Ministers at Federated Church. He led in the establishment of a Christian Coffee House in Waterloo that served young adults in the evening and senior citizens in the daytime. He initiated Dial of Devotion to bring a spoken meditation to persons long before cellphones. In all his ministry he led in establishing opportunities for persons of different faiths to come together in discussion and worship, especially at Thanksgiving.
He extended this gift into the community where he was always active. He was a member of Kiwanis International for 62 years and a member of the boards of American Red Cross, Mental Health Association, Habitat for Humanity, and Lafayette Urban Ministry. He served as chaplain to both police and fire departments. He served in numerous roles for regional and national boards of both the American Baptists and the Disciples of Christ. Along with Barb, he led many camps and conferences, especially at the American Baptist Assembly at Green Lake, Wisconsin. Gary and Barb also had the privilege of organizing and leading many groups to the Holy Land and other countries.
Family was the greatest joy of his life. Gary always made sure his sermon was ready early in the week so he could be with his children on Saturday. He was present at every school and sports event. As children became adults and lived relatively close, family get-togethers were the happiest times for him. When grandchildren arrived, his interest and participation only intensified. He loved taking vacations, especially to the Reif Cabin in Manitou Springs, Colorado, where the family could spend quality time, sometimes with the extended family. He and Barb were partners for 65 years, both in the family and in the life of the church. Gary supported her as she moved from stay-at-home mom to fulltime employment, proud of her role in her not-for-profit agencies.
Enthusiasm and optimism were the grace notes of Gary's life. His presence brought joy and love to any occasion. He approached each new day as an opportunity to make it better for those around him. He loved working with the staff in whatever place he found himself. Even in the last months while in hospital or care facilities his presence and singing made the situation brighter and happier. He often said, "If today is my only day in time and space, it is enough."
Surviving is his wife of 65 years, Barbara A. Reif of West Lafayette, IN, children, David Dean (Stacy) Reif of Monon, IN, Diana Dawn Reif of West Lafayette, IN and Dirk Douglas (Keli) of Manitou Springs, CO, three brothers, William (Nan) Reif of Tempe, AZ, Steven (Neta) Reif of Kalona, IA and Douglas (Deborah) Reif of Tucson, AZ. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Emmalie Reif, Mathew Reif, Autumn Reif, Dawson Reif, Kylie Reif, and Kendall Reif.
Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Friday, June 13, 2025 at Federated Church, 2400 Sycamore Lane, West Lafayette, IN 47906 and again from 10:00 am until the time of the service at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 14, 2025 also at Federated Church with Rev. Dusty Cowell officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Federated Church of West Lafayette, IN.