Posted on August 28, 2017 at 9:07 AM by Global Reach
Lewis (Lewie) and the late Virginia Reyman have been lifelong supporters of 4-H, both serving as 4-H leaders for many years, 4-H fair superintendents in various departments at the Woodbury County Fair, youth committee sub-committee members for nine years, and as chaperones on the Citizenship Washington Focus trip to D.C..
Lewie was a six-year member of the Woodbury County Extension Council and was chairman for two years. He also served on the Woodbury County Fair Board 30 years.
Virginia was a member of the Rock-Kee-Union 4-H club, started by her father, Lester Groepper, in 1951. She was co-founder of the Cushing Homemakers 4-H club in 1973 and served as leader for many years. Her talents as a homemaker and teacher were highly respected, leading to her judging 4-H exhibits at surrounding county fairs.
Lewie served in the United States Army for two years during the Korean conflict, where he was a long-lines signal specialist. After his honorable discharge, he returned home to Cushing and started farming the Reyman family farm. The farm was awarded the Century Farm distinction in 2001. Lewie is a retired row-crop farmer and cattle feeder, who also enjoyed his horses.
Virginia taught school in Anthon for several years and then in the Eastwood and River Valley school systems. She retired in 2000 after teaching for 37 years and continued to be a substitute teacher at River Valley. She was very involved in their community, helping to start the Cushing Library Book Discussion group and serving as its first discussion leader. She was a member of the Hotsy Totsy Red Hatters, Monday night card club and Cushing’s Unpublished Authors club. She was instrumental in starting the Cushing Community Library in 1999 in the old Cushing school, then relocating it to the current location downtown. The library’s Children’s Corner is dedicated to her memory for her leadership and tireless devotion to making the library a reality.
In 1956, Lewie and Virginia were the first couple to be married in the newly remodeled St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cushing. To this union, three children were born: Dennis (Lori) Reyman of Correctionville; David (Wendi) Reyman of Cushing; and Denise (Randy) Wright of Correctionville. All three were nine-year members of the Rock-Kee-Union 4-H Club. Denise was in the Cushing Homemakers as well. The children have followed in their parents’ footsteps, with Denise and David being involved on the fair board and as past 4-H leaders. Dennis previously served on Extension Council and Denise is currently on the Woodbury County Extension Council.
Lewie and Virginia have four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren following the family legacy through 4-H, agriculture, church, and community involvement.
Virginia was killed in an automobile accident Nov. 17, 2005. Her memory lives on through her family, community, church and the many lives she touched as a teacher, leader, mentor and friend.