Dell "Mike" R. Reed

Dell R. “Mike” Reed, 78, of 1582 Beecher Ave., formerly of 571 N. Seminary St. Galesburg, IL, died at 11:40 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at home. Mike was born on May 15, 1929 in Aurora, IL, the son of Dell M. and Blanche A. Amenhauser Reed. He married Geraldine Whitson on September 2, 1957 in Galesburg, IL. She preceded him in death on January 15, 2003. Surviving Mike are 4 sons: Robert of Santa Rosa, CA; Dell Michael, IV of Galesburg; Gerard of North Richland Hills, TX; Lester (Yolanda) of Mesa, AZ; 9 daughters: Patrice Reed, Mary (Dan) Brownlee, Stacy (Chris) Monti, Bernadette Reed, Jeannie (Terry) Boynton all of Galesburg; Frances (Darren) Helle of St. Michael, MN; Geraldine (Colin) Sloan of Carbondale, IL; Maria (Todd) Shores of North Liberty, IA; and Margaret (Jason) Ross of Galesburg. Also surviving Mike are one brother John Patrick “Pat” (Judy) Reed of Galesburg; 37 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Preceding Mike in death were one grandson Robert Reed Whitlatch, IV, and 2 sisters. Mike graduated from Corpus Christi High School in 1947. He served in the US Navy on the USS Wasp in Korea from 1950 until 1954. He was an Engineer on the CB&Q and the Burlington Northern for 47 ½ years, retiring in 1991. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 644 and Local Firemans UTU 195. He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and had grown up attending Corpus Christi Church. He was a 4th Degree member of the Father J.O. Hunts Knights of Columbus Council 556, the Ralph M. Noble American Legion Post #285, VFW Post #2257, 3rd Order of the Lay Carmelites, Knox County Right to Life, National Catholic Society of Foresters, and was very active in supporting catholic education. Mass of Christian burial will be at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 2, 2007 at Corpus Christi Church, with Rev. Ernest Pizzamiglio, Rev. Joseph Presely, the Most Reverend William E. Franklin, and Rev. Robert Gruss, officiating. Visitation will be from 5- 8 p.m. on Friday June 1, 2007 at Watson Funeral Home, Knights of Columbus 4th degree service will be at 8 p.m. with the rosary being prayed following the service. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, with military honors being conducted by Ralph M. Noble American Legion Honor Guard. Memorials may be made to Eternal World Television Network in Irondale, AL, Corpus Christi Church, Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Patrick’s Church, or the charity of the donors choice.