BLOOMFIELD, Iowa – Joseph Reyes, 67, of Bloomfield, Iowa, died at 4:11 a.m. Feb. 17, 2017 at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.
He was born Aug. 27, 1949 in Floris, Iowa, to Feliciano “Felix” and Guadalupe “Lupe” Atilano Reyes. He married Debra Wells in 1975 and they later divorced.
A graduate of Davis County High School, he served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1970 serving in Germany. He worked for the Rock Island Railroad living in Iowa City and moving to Wyoming in 1988. He retired from the Union Pacific Railroad in 2010 and moved back to Ottumwa, Iowa, and then Bloomfield.
He was a member of Reed-Whisler Post #78 American Legion in Bloomfield and of the B.P.O Elks Lodge and Moose Lodge in Wyoming. He enjoyed gardening, mowing and restoring tractors. He especially loved helping people and spending time with friends.
Surviving are his son, Dustin (Faith) Reyes of Ottumwa; three grandchildren, Whitney and Lexi Engle and Gabriel Reyes; 10 siblings, Jim (Betty) Reyes, Felix (Helen) Reyes, Mary (Larry) Cassidy, Juanita (Gary) Cox, Antonio Reyes, Pete (Shari) Reyes, Dolly (Tony) Benge, Margaret Morrisey, Liz (Mitch) Williams and Steve Reyes; a brother-in-law, Ron Schooley; many nieces, nephews and cousins and Joe’s life partner, Jan Fuller.
His parents and a sister, Ramona Schooley, preceded him in death.
His body has been cremated. Military honors will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Floris Community Center. A luncheon and time to celebrate his life will follow.
Memorials may be made to the Restored Rock Island Railroad Depot Museum in Eldon, Iowa.
