Robert Reeve, 82, died on Saturday, February 23, 2008 at MeritCare Northwest Campus Hospital in Thief River Falls, MN

Funeral service will be at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at the United Methodist Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Reverend Philip Schmidt officiating. Burial will be

Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at the Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with a 7:00 P.M. Prayer service on Tuesday evening and also at the church for one hour prior to the service.

Robert C. (Bob) Reeve was born on August 5, 1925 in Bemidji, MN to Edward C. Reeve and Linda (Buskell) Reeve. He graduated from Bemidji HS in 1943 and went on to serve as an aerial gunner in the U.S. Army Air Force, flying B-17 bomber combat missions over Europe as a member of the 548th Bombardment Squadron of the 385th Bombardment Group, receiving numerous decorations for his WWII service. Following his discharge from the Army Air Force in 1945, he joined Company E of the Minnesota National Guard, serving there until September 1949.

On August 17, 1947, while a student at Bemidji State Teachers College, he was united in Marriage to G. JoAnn Lynne. Following graduation from Bemidji State in 1949, he was employed as a teacher in the Elbow Lake, MN school system. After earning his Master of Science degree from the University of Minnesota in 1960, Bob held the position of Elbow Lake HS Guidance Counselor until 1963, when he relocated his family to Thief River Falls, MN, where he was the Guidance Counselor at Lincoln HS until 1970. Between 1970 and 1983, Bob was employed as Counselor and Coordinator of Student Services at the Thief River Falls Technical Institute. He retired from that position in 1983 after 34 years in Education. Bob was active in many professional organizations, including the Elbow Lake and Thief River Falls Education Associations, the Northwest Minnesota Counselors Association, the Kraemer-Brown Uniserve of the MEA, and the MEA Board.

He was a 5th Ward Alderman, served on the Thief River Falls City Council, and was Mayor between 1992 and 1998. He was most active in the American Legion, serving as Elbow Lake, MN Post 321 Commander from 1960 " 1961, Thief River Falls, MN Post 117 Commander from 1966 " 1967, American Legion Ninth District Commander from 1978 " 1979, Department (State) Vice Commander from 1981 " 1982, and as Department (State) Commander from 1985 " 1986. He also served as Alternate National Executive Committeeman from 1991 " 1995. Bob was a Life Member of American Legion Post 117, VFW Post 2793, the National Education Association and Anivicus. He was also a member of the Air Force Association, the 385th BG Memorial Association, the Air Force Gunners Association, and the 40&8. Bob was a Past President of the Thief River Falls (Noon) Lions club and a member of Northern Lodge 236 A.F. and A.M. and Winslow Chapter 182 O.E.S. He was also an active member of the Thief River Falls United Methodist Church, singing for many years in the church choir, and serving on a number of church committees. He enjoyed golfing, woodcarving, reading, and participating in a wide variety of community activities.

Bob is survived by his daughter Linda (Dan) LeRoy of Caldwell, ID, son David (Doris) Reeve of Alexandria, MN, grandsons Derek LeRoy, Brian (Andrea) LeRoy, Aaron (Melissa) Cooper, Adam Cooper, and Jeremy Reeve, two great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife JoAnn, Great Grandson Marcus Cooper, and special friend, Marilyn Winters.

Family condolences may be sent to www.johnsonfuneralservice.com

MILITARY HONORS: American Legion Ecklund-Holmstrom Post #117, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2793