Anna Maria Kimpel Reha was born May 31, 1944, to Elena Donzelli in Naples, Italy. While in Naples, Elena met and married Clyde Kimpel, a United States Army Air Corp Veteran during WWII. Anna and her mother left their family in war torn Italy in 1946 to start a new life in the United States with Clyde. Anna returned back to her homeland one time in her 71 years.
Anna attended country school west of Adair, later attending Adair Elementary, and graduating from Adair Casey High School in 1963. Elena and Clyde gave her a sister, Lucina (husband, Darrell Bailey). Anna played a huge role in raising her sister. After high school, Anna moved to Maryville, Missouri, and attended Northwest Missouri State University and worked as a librarian. Later, she moved back to Atlantic, then back to Adair.
On September 19, 1970, Anna was united in marriage to Dennis Reha at St. John's Catholic Church in Adair. Into that marriage three sons were born; Christopher 1971 (wife, Nikki), Michael 1973 and Timothy 1977 (wife, Robyn).
She and Denny were very involved in raising their sons, as religious education teacher, Cub Scout and 4H leaders, class room mom, and never missed a football, basketball or baseball game, school play or musical that the boys' were involved in, including getting the sheep and rabbits ready for fair. It wasn't unusual for her to jump in the truck with Denny hauling grain or hogs or cattle to Omaha, even being pregnant, with Denny having to lift her into the truck.
With raising three sons, Anna was a stay at home mom until her youngest son went to school. She decided to go to work as a bookkeeper for the family business, Reha Trucking, for many years until the company's demise in 1991. Anna went to work for Schafer System's (Owner Revolution Inc.) in Adair and worked there as of October 2015 until her health started to fail. She had built many friendships within the coworkers of ORI.
Anna was very involved in the Catholic Woman's Organization of St John's Catholic Church, Adair Chamber of Commerce, Jesse James Chuck Wagon Days celebration and parade, Adair Fire Auxiliary and VFW Auxiliary for many years. Anna was an amazing cook and loved to crochet, making many blankets for friends, her sons and grandbabies. She will be missed by her friends but most of all her family.
Anna and Denny's sons made them proud but the greatest gift they ever gave them was 11 grandchildren: Lee, Katelyn, Cody, Alexandra, Adrianna, Kynedee, Anthony, Mahalia, Nicolas, Pressly and Gianna. Unfortunately, Anna left this world a few days prior to meeting her first great-granddaughter, Stella.
Anna was preceded in death by her father, Clyde; mother, Elena; her husband, Dennis; father/mother-in-law, Vernon and Ruthe Reha; and one brother-in-law, Robert Reha.
Remaining to celebrate her life are her sister, Lucina; brothers-in-law, Terry Reha, Con (Di) Reha, Jim (Delores) Reha and Mark (Tricia) Reha; sister-in-law, Mary (Dan) Waldrop; her sons and spouses; grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, and cousins who reside in Italy and many, many friends.
Visitation with family will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 30, 2015, at Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Adair, Iowa.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at All Saints Catholic Church in Stuart, Iowa, with burial in St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Adair, Iowa.
Visits: 14
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors