Robert Eugene Reed, born July 14, 1947, to Charles E. and Eloise Ruth (Armstrong) Reed in East Liverpool, Ohio. He passed away on October 19, 2021, at his home in Garretson. Interment will be at a later date in the South Dakota State Veterans Cemetery near Sioux Falls. He attended 1st thru 11th grade of school in East Liverpool. The family moved to Houston, Texas and he completed his high school and college programs there.
Drafted into the US Army, Robert served with honor as a senior combat medic with a combat armor unit in South Vietnam. Wounded in combat, he was most proud of caring for his fellow soldiers before tending to his own wounds. He was a good soldier, proud of his service and very proud of the flag.
After discharge from the Army, Robert attended nursing school and after graduation he trained in open heart and trauma surgery at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston. Robert worked as a nurse for 40 years with most of the time in the surgical operating room.
In 1969 he married Carla Chance of Carthage, South Dakota. They had four children: Steven, Anne, Scott, and Joshua. The marriage ended in 1991. In 1995 he married Mary Skinner of Sturgis, South Dakota. In 1999, he adopted her two children: Carly and Matthew. They were married until 2010. In 2014 he married Gretchen Ann Sturgis of Sterling, Colorado and lived there until her death in March 2016. In October of 2016, he relocated to Garretson, SD to be close to his son, Steven and his family.
Robert was preceded in death by his grandparents, Lawrence and Nettie Reed, parents Charles and Eloise Reed, his son Joshua Aaron Reed, and wife Gretchen Ann Sturgis Reed. The loss of his wife and son within four months’ time was especially devastating for him.
Robert is survived by his son, Steven (Stacie) Reed, and their family of Garretson, SD; daughter, Anne (Dan) Wagner and their family of Losantville, Indiana; son Scott (Evi) Reed and their family of Moses Lake, Washington; daughter, Carly Reed and son, Matthew Reed of Rapid City, SD; 17 grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. He highly valued his friends made in Garretson.
Robert enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was especially proud of his military service and his time helping surgical patients. He hopes to be with his parents, his son, and wife for the future.
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