Obituary: Beverley Jean Reed

Beverley Jean Reed, 85, of Sturgeon Bay, died January 31, 2017, at Pine Crest Village. She was born Sept. 10, 1931, in Oconomowoc, WI to William and Rachael (Evans) Koeppler.  On August 26, 1950, she married Jack A. Reed in Concord, WI. He preceded her in death on March 9, 2004.  Beverley was a member of P.E.O. sisterhood and a long-time member of United Methodist Church in Sturgeon Bay.

Born during the Great Depression, coming of age during World War II, marrying her high school sweetheart in 1950, Bev could not have foreseen the adventures she would live.

In 1967, Bev and Jack moved their family to Katsina, Nigeria for two years. They fell in love with the place and the people, and returned to Nigeria in 1974 where they stayed for seven years. Her adventures there included coups, a civil war, friends that became family, and the opportunity to change young lives with her private pre-school that is still honored by the students who attended. In 1981, they moved to Botswana, where Bev again found a way to make a difference, as the administrative assistant to the director of USAID. Their love affair with Africa never ended, but they eventually retired to Door County, Wisconsin in 1995, where their stories of life overseas never failed to entertain their grandchildren and friends.

Survivors include three children, Teri (William) VanBeckum, Fairhope, AL; Robyn (Chuck Foulke) Reed, Madison, WI; Scott (Sheryl) Reed, Mequon; eight grandchildren, Tony, Jack, Dora (Bryce), Patrick, Carter, Lindsay, Kathleen, and Sarah; three great-grandchildren, Jack, Ellie, and Patrick; two sisters, Joanne (Bill) Carlson, and Shirley (Ron) Lee.  She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. February 11, 2017, at Sturgeon Bay United Methodist Church.  Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at the church on Saturday.  Memorials may be directed to Sturgeon Bay United Methodist Church or Concord United Methodist Church.  On-line condolences may be offered at forbesfuneralhome.com