Beverly J. Reichard

Beverly Jean Reichard, 89, of Willowick Assisted Living, Beloit, WI, died March 23, 2025. A life-long Rock County resident, she was born December 26, 1935, in Beloit to Gasper and Loraine (Ellingson/Samson) Grandeffo. She graduated from Beloit Memorial High School in 1954.
Bev married Donald Lou Reichard March 16, 1957, at Second Congregational Church, Beloit, and together they raised four boys in Beloit and Newark Twp. Don died July 24, 2002.
Bev was a homemaker all her life, as well as working for Shopko in the late 1980s/early 90s. She was a fantastic cook who took pride in having taught herself the culinary skills to feed her new family, and mastering many recipes and ethnic cooking styles, including dishes from her Sicilian heritage. Bev and Don loved to travel, especially in Wisconsin, and were known to avoid the highway in favor of "back roads" whenever possible. She was an avid reader all her life, and accumulated many much-loved books of mystery, romance, fantasy, biography, history, and of course, cooking. Bev cherished her life-long friendships with Isabel Crowley, Janice Mitchell, Phyllis Steele and Dedie Zinnecker; over the years the group enjoyed many birthdays, anniversaries and other events together, with and without their husbands. Her and Don were long-time members of Second Congregational Church (United Church of Beloit).
Bev is survived by sons, Scott (Jean) Reichard, Beloit, Martin (Prena) Reichard, Washington, DC, Matthew (Susie) Reichard, Mt. Horeb, WI, and Andrew (Karen) Reichard, McGregor, IA; brother, David (Marilyn) Grandeffo, Cassville, WI; grandchildren, Robert Reichard, Marissa Reichard, and Joshua Reichard; step grandchildren, Shannon DeVoe and Rachel Wilfahrt; nieces and a nephew; special cousin, Phyliss Agate; and life-long friends, Isabel and Janice.
She was predeceased by her husband, Don; parents, Gasper and Loraine; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lewis and Dorothy Reichard; sister-in-law, Marcene Seitz; and friends, Phyllis and Dedie.
The family wishes to thank Willowick Assisted Living and St. Croix Hospice for their help and support.
A private family burial will take place at Newark Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bev's name may be given to St. Croix Hospice.