Roy Eugene ReifIowa City, IA

Roy Eugene Reif, 79, died May 16, 2026, in Iowa City, Iowa.  He was born February 17, 1947, in Great Bend, Kansas, the son of William J. and Eleanor M. (Klug) Reif. He attended St. Joseph Catholic School in Beaver, Kansas, from 1953 to 1961 and then went to high school at Hoisington High School graduating in 1965. He then attended Emporia State University where he earned his B.S. in Business Administration in 1969.

On July 19, 1969, he married Diana “Sue” Wayman in Emporia, Kansas. Roy worked in retail management which led them to make their home in many places throughout the Midwest. Starting in Great Bend, then to Warrensburg, MO, Independence, MO, Hoisington, KS, Omaha, NE, North Platte, NE, Washburn, WI, Dodge City, KS, and Concordia, KS. Upon retiring in 2013, they spent winters in Fort Myers, Florida and summers in Eldridge, Iowa where they were able to spend time with their son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.

While living in Kansas he was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Beaver and St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hoisington. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the NRA. Roy served in the Army Reserves as a Staff Sergeant from 1969 to 1975 and was a lifetime member of the American Legion.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sue Reif of the home; a son, Matthew Reif and wife Jennifer; and grandchildren, Emma and Nathan Reif, all of Eldridge, Iowa; siblings, Eileen Meier of Castle Rock, CO, Eugene Reif and wife Steph of Wichita; and Lillian Cole of Derby.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Cremation has taken place and friends may sign the book now until services at the funeral home.

Inurnment graveside services will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 11th, 2026, at Holy Family Catholic Cemetery, Odin, Kansas. Military Honors will be conducted by Kansas Army National Guard Honor Guard. A reception at the Knights of Columbus Hall, in Odin, will follow services.

Memorials may be made to Holy Family Cemetery Fund, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

To send a flower arrangement in memory of Roy Eugene Reif, please click here to visit our sympathy store.