Reigh Glen Neukirch (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Reigh Glen Neukirch, son of Fred and Ivy Pippig Neukirch, was born May 3, 1929, in Lookout, Oklahoma. He departed this life Friday, May 25, 2012, at his home, near Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of eighty-three years, and twenty-two days.
On December 23, 1952, he was united in marriage to Mary Helen Nish, and to this union one daughter was born.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary, on September 23, 2003; six brothers, Lewis, Leslie, George, William, Frank, and Fred, Jr.; and four sisters, Mary, Marjorie, Gladys, and Hazel.
Reigh is survived by a daughter, Nancy Machado, and her husband, Bruce, of Fort Hood, Texas; two grandchildren, Carlyn Machado, of Columbus, Georgia, Justin Machado, of Fort Hood, Texas; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
He was raised on the family farm near Lookout, Oklahoma, and attended Freedom High School, in Freedom, Oklahoma. He entered the military as a young man, and served in the United States Army Air Corps and later the Air Force for six years, during the Korean War. He was stationed in Thailand during part of that time, and was discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He and Mary made their home in Ohio and Illinois before settling in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Reigh worked as an electrical engineer at Magnavox and for the State Long Distance Telephone Company for a number of years. In 2004, he moved to the Lebanon, Missouri area, and enjoyed his retirement.
Reigh was a longtime member of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lake Geneva, Washington. Since moving to Lebanon, he was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where he served as an Elder.
He earned his pilot’s license at the age of sixty-two, owned a plane for a number of years, and was active in the Civil Air Patrol in Wisconsin. He and Mary loved dancing, and enjoyed ballroom dancing, square dancing, and clogging. He possessed a “happy-go-lucky” demeanor and always had lots of energy. He liked traveling and enjoyed having time with his daughter and grandchildren.
Reigh was a loving father, grandfather, and uncle, and was a kind and caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and know that he will be fondly remembered as a loving family man, a hard worker, and a patriotic citizen.
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