Arvye Kathleen Reeh

Born in the hills of Kentucky in 1929, Arvye was the third child of Cleon and Nora Abbott. Arvye Kathleen lived her first years tied to the cycles of farming, school and church. Her family; with siblings Mary Lou, Herbert, Cleon, Sarah, and Daniel; later moved between Michigan and Kentucky to weather the great depression and the war years. During WWII the family landed in Hamtramck, Michigan where Arvye spent her high school years. Cleon and Nora eventually settled in Lansing, Michigan while Arvye entered the Women’s Army Corp. She served the European reconstruction in London and Hamburg during the Korean War years, returning to Lansing to attend school. She studied renal dietetics at Michigan State University and interned at the VA hospital in the Bronx, New York. During Arvye’s internship she lived in Manhattan where she met architect Ernst Reeh. Ernst and Arvye enjoyed New York and upon the conclusion of Arvye’s internship, Ernst followed Arvye back to Michigan and on to Florida and Ecuador to visit with sister Mary Lou and her young family. Ernst and Arvye returned to Michigan to marry and settle down to domesticity. They had five children: Nora Elizabeth, Katherine Anne, Friedrich Richard, Sarah Louisa, and Ernst Henry who died just a few days into his life. Arvye was always a devoted mother with an intrepid, adventurous heart. She loved to camp and travel and always carried dreams of the next adventure. With frugality and determination, she put packs on our backs and cross country skis on our feet. But Arvye was also the gentle soul who all the neighborhood kids recognized as the natural repository for lost or broken animals. Mom loved to cook, bake, and host family parties and in later years, reunions at the Lake. She read voraciously enjoying history, biography, fiction and the bible. Her intellectual curiosity fed our intellects and nurtured our spirits. She loved her property on Higgins Lake and the cycles of spring beach clean-up, summer swims, fall leaf-raking, and winter thoughts with good reads. On the lake, she was recognized for her independent ways. She walked 2 miles every day and swam every morning in the summer. Mom attended Markey Baptist Church where she most appreciated the spirit of brotherly love which characterized the outreach and focus of the congregation. She was at home on the Lake with her sunny disposition and her simple approach to living. As Mom’s health deteriorated she moved to Minnesota full time where all her children were gathered. Arvye enjoyed and appreciated the love and care she received at LuAnn’s Home and the very loving and professional cares she received from the staff at Wealshire of Bloomington. Although she sometimes mentioned how she wished she didn’t have to train in new people, Mom always said they were good kids (wink, wink). She appreciated the home she found there. Arvye is survived by her sister Sarah Naomi Garber, her brother Dan Abbott, her children Nora Reeh, Kathy Kerekes (James), Friedy Reeh (Bethany), Sarah Reeh-Crane (Mike) and her grandchildren; Avery Kruger, Teddy Damm, Marina Kerekes, Isaac Reeh, Max Crane, and Kiri Kerekes. At this time there will be a private family viewing followed by cremation. A memorial service will follow in 2016 as a more complete family gathering can occur. The family thanks all the family, friends, and caretakers who blessed Mom’s life and therefore ours. Gifts in lieu of flowers may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Tributes

Arvye Kathleen Reeh

November 14, 2015

Tributes

Arvye Kathleen Reeh

November 14, 2015

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