Arthur Reichert

Arthur W. Reichert died at his home on Feb. 3, 2013.

He was born May 3, 1914, on the family homestead in King City Township, McPherson County, to Bernard and Nellie Grace (Bamfield) Reichert.

He had a lifelong love of horses stemming from his experiences of raising and farming with them. He spent most of his life working with horses, even using his team of Percheron’s to work his farm and garden.

On June 5, 1937, he married Freda Decker at the Emmanuel Church near Galva. Art and Freda settled on the farm just north of the family homestead, where he remained until his death.

Arthur spent his entire life farming, retiring in 1999. His years of farming were spent operating a dairy, growing grain crops, raising Polled Herefords and Quarter and Draft horses.

Away from the farm, Art managed the Elyria elevator for W-R Mills, worked for Arnold Serviss at the Federal Bin site northwest of McPherson and filled in driving the school bus when Freda couldn’t.

When Art and Freda were married, he joined the Mennonite Church and was a member of the First Mennonite Church of McPherson. He served as a member of the trustees and was on the building committee when this church was built following the fire that destroyed the earlier church.

On July 1, 1999, Freda, his wife of 62 years, passed away.

Survivors are daughters: Agnes Reichert and George Brown of McPherson and Beulah Carey of Lindsborg; his grandsons, Justin Reichert and his wife, Julia of McPherson and Ryon Carey of Lindsborg; and a great-grandson, Thorin Reichert; step-grandchildren, Frank Mendonca, Tom Mendonca and John Mendonca; brother-in-law, Carl F. Young and his wife, Delores of McPherson; cousins, Betty Ashcraft of Oklahoma City and Margaret Minns of Buhler; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, at First Mennonite Church, McPherson, with Pastor Kathy Neufeld Dunn presiding. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to service time Saturday at the church. Burial will be in the McPherson City Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Kansas Draft Horse and Mule Association or the First Mennonite Church, McPherson.