Herman F. “Rex” Reheis
Herman F. “Rex” Reheis was born July 30, 1916 in Douglass, Ks. to Harry Reheis and Beulah Olmstead.
He died on April 29, 2011 in Atlanta. A proud member of the “Greatest Generation,” he lived a long life with many adventures and experiences. In 1935, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a horse-riding cavalry trooper at Fort Riley, KS. After discharge he worked in the oil fields of southern California, but as war clouds gathered he re-enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an airplane mechanic.
Shortly after Pearl Harbor, he married Maxine Hall of Rose Hill, Ks. He rose through the ranks, became an officer, and was hooked on flying by his then-commanding officer, Jimmy Stewart of movie fame.
He then went through flight training and piloted a B-25 low-level strafer-bomber called “Seabiscuit” during 11 months of campaigns in the South Pacific in the 500th Bomb Squadron, rising to Captain. After the end of World War II and mustering down, he re-enlisted and eventually was re-appointed as an officer.
Mr. Reheis served in the Air Force through postings in various units as a pilot and field maintenance commander in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Maine, Georgia, and England, with his family trailing along everywhere, by now with three children: Joseph, Harold, and Marith.
After retiring in 1967, at the age of 50, he turned a hobby of restoring Model A Fords into a business. Mr. and Mrs. Reheis traveled the U.S. buying auto parts, restoring the parts and six entire award-winning autos, and attending antique auto meets, where he became well-known as the Carburetor King.
They built a new home from the ground up on Lake Jackson in Georgia, where they learned to play golf, helped found the volunteer fire department, sang in church choirs, served on local community boards, and traveled together. At 94, Mr. Reheis was still to be found frequently at the local bowling alley, working in his machine shop, or playing cards and dominoes.
Survivors include Harold Reheis of Atlanta, Marith Reheis of Golden, Colo.; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, a sister, Anita England, and his oldest son, Joe.