JOSEPH EARL REI

Joseph Earl Rei, age 83, resident of 2280 Jayhawk Road, Fort Scott, Kan., died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, at his home.

He was born April 27, 1925 in Mapleton, Kan., the son of Charles Anthony Rei and Ula Belle Casteel Rei.

Joe was a graduate of Blue Mound High School. He married Donaldeen Kibble on June 2, 1946 in Mapleton.

He owned the Rei Trucking Company from 1955 to 1985. From 1985 until 2000 he worked for the Moran Truck Line. Joe also taught truck driving at the Fort Scott Community College. He also raised cattle on his farm near Mapleton.

Elder Joe was pastor of the Mapleton Community of Christ Church and later the Fort Scott Community of Christ Church. Beside his church work he loved working with his cattle.

Survivors include his wife Donnie, of the home; one son, Joseph D. Rei and wife Paula, Kansas City, Mo.; and one daughter, Joy Wiltse, Fort Scott.

Also surviving is his caregiver James Hawkins; three grandchildren, Amy Tourtillott and husband Adam, Jeremy Wiltse, all of Fort Scott and SSG Charles Rei, deployed in Iraq and wife Steffi, living in Forchheim, Germany; and three great-grandchildren, Lucas Joseph Rei, Alexis Grace Tourtillott and Jacob Joseph Tourtillott. He was preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law, Jon Wiltse.

Evangelist Jim Jones, Bob Casino and Bruce Larson will conduct funeral services at 2 p.m., Tuesday in the Fort Scott Community of Christ Church. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday in the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to either the Mapleton or the Fort Scott Community of Christ Church and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kan. 66701.

Words of comfort may be emailed to the family at condolences@cheneywitt.com.