Ryal W. Reis January 31, 1927 to June 20, 2013

Hastings resident, Ryal W. Reis, 86, passed away Thursday, June 20, 2013 at Perkins Pavilion, Good Samaritan Society, Hastings-Village. Rosary will be Sunday, June 23, 2013 at 7 pm at Brand-Wilson Chapel, Hastings, NE with Father Michael Houlihan officiating. Mass of Christian burial will be Monday, June 24, 2013 at 10 am at St. Michael’s Catholic Church with Father Michael Houlihan officiating. Burial will be in Blue Valley Cemetery, Ayr, NE. Visitation will be Sunday, June 23, 2013 from 1 pm to 7 pm with the family present from 6 pm to 7 pm at the Brand-Wilson Funeral Home, Hastings, NE. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.brandwilson.com. In lieu of flowers a memorial will be established.
     Royal was born January 31, 1927 to Frank C. and Minnie (Gartner) Reis at the Glasco General Hospital in Hastings, NE. He was baptized at the Immanuel Lutheran Church. He attended grade school at the Baton School south of Blue Hill, NE.
   His parents moved to Reis farm located SW of Hastings in the spring of 1939.He then went to District 5 School. He graduated from Roseland High School on May 9, 1944.
     He served in the United States Army from May 1, 1945 to July 30, 1946 during WWII stationed in Japan.
He married Virginia M. Schreiner on October 10, 1949 at the Assuption BVM Catholic Church in Topeka, KS; she passed away, July 12, 1995.
Ryal worked on the pipeline and helped his father-in-law do construction while living in Topeka until 1956.
They moved to Roseburg and then Salem, OR.
In March of 1959 they returned to Adams County where he farmed until February 1985. He also had dairy cows for a few years before switching to beef.
He sold Sentry Pac and J-1000 units to area farmers for grain bins before moving to Hastings in 2008. He was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Juniata American Legion, Hastings V.F.W., DAV, Knights of Columbus, Eagles Aerie 592 all in Hastings, and was a member of the Liederkranz in Grand Island, NE.
 He also served as a board member for Coop Grain & Supply of Roseland and the Sirloin Club. He served on the Hastings and Adams County as a member of the area planning & zoning commission from October 1979 to July 1985.
He was a member of the VFW firing squad and burial detail for many years until he could no longer help due to his health. He was also a member of the Blue Valley Cemetery Board. He also served as post commander of the local VFW for a number of years.
    He so loved to dance that many a weekend was spent following bands in NE and KS.
    He is survived by two daughters and spouses, Linda Trausch (Edward), of Hastings, NE and Cynthia Berry (Larry) of Pisgah, IA, one son and spouse, Brian Reis (Barb) of Ortonville, MI, 6 grandchildren, Aaron Karr (Gena) of Arlington, NE, Angela Karr of Omaha, NE, Chad (Leah) Trausch of Juniata, NE, Scott (Angela) Trausch of Hastings, NE, Briahna Reis and Brandon Reis of Ortonville, MI, and 9 great grandchildren, Garris Karr and Aadra Karr of Arlington, NE, Myah Hays of Omaha, NE, Libby, Jack, Annie and Elin Trausch of Juniata, NE, and Grant and Morgan Trausch of Hastings, N, two brothers, Wilbur Reis of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Franklin Reis of Ayr, NE, one sister and spouse, Ardyce M. (Cal) Burge of Blue Hill, NE, two brother-in-law and their spouses, LeRoy (Jeanie) Schreiner of Topeka, KS, and Don (Ruth) Schreiner of Summerfield, FL and longtime friend, Lorene Buscher of Hastings, NE.
     He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Virginia, sister-in-laws, Ruby Reis, Janet Reis and Jackie Schreiner and brother-in-law, Clarence Schreiner.