Agnes Reeh

Agnes (Sabatka) Reeh was born August 23, 1923 north of Beardsley, Kansas to Joseph F. and Pauline (Holub) Sabatka. She departed this life December 21, 2014 at Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood, Kansas, at age 91 years 3 months 28 days. She was baptized in infancy at St. John’s Catholic Church.


Agnes attended White Lily School, a small country school near the family farm, and graduated from Atwood High School in 1941. After graduating in 1943 from Central Business School in Denver, Agnes was employed as a secretary for two years at W. M. James Plumbing Distribution Co. in Denver until her mother’s death in 1945. She moved home to the farm where she cared for her father and brother Louis.


On June 21, 1948 she was united in marriage to Albert J. Reeh at St. John’s Catholic Church, rural Beardsley. They made their home on a farm northwest of Beardsley. This union was blessed with four daughters, Lynaire, Lorraine, Maureen, Michelle, and son, Robert. Albert and Agnes moved to Atwood in 1984, where they spent their retirement years.


Agnes was an active member of St. John’s Catholic Church when living on the farm, and then at Sacred Heart Catholic Church during retirement. Throughout her lifetime, she was always ready to help those in need by cleaning, cooking, volunteering, visiting the sick, or one of her favorite activities -- reading to her elderly friends at The Good Samaritan Society of Atwood. Agnes had a talent for arts and crafts, including painting, quilting, ceramics, sewing, and so many others. She also enjoyed traveling, gardening, playing board games, and cooking. There is hardly a person who knew her that didn’t at some time get to enjoy her kolaches, rosettes, cream puffs, or other baked goods. She was well known for her fabulous collection of chicken memorabilia. Agnes will probably most be remembered for her love of entertaining.


Agnes was preceded in death by her husband, Albert; son, Robert; son-in-law, Michael Benefiel; her parents, Joseph and Pauline; an infant brother, Victor; sister, Emily Sabatka; sister, Beata and brother-in-law Frank Vrbas; and sister-in-law, Irene Sabatka.


She is survived by her four daughters, Lynaire Reeh, Lorraine Reeh, Maureen BeDillon and husband Nyle, of Denver, Michelle Reeh of Atwood; and daughter-in-law, Jolene Reeh, of McDonald; four grandchildren, Kimberly Cross, Danielle Clark and husband Kevin, of Denver; Naomi Reeh of Orono, Maine, and Kenan Reeh of Manhattan, Kansas; brother, Louis Sabatka and wife Elizabeth of Atwood; brother-in-law, Clarence Reeh and wife Irene, of Denver; sister-in-law, Eva Cahoj, of Colby; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.


Visitation will be from 3-6:00 p.m. Friday, December 26, 2014 at Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood, with a Vigil at 6:00 p.m. Funeral Mass is at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 27, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Atwood. Burial will follow in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery, north of Beardsley. Memorials are suggested to the Rawlins County Hospital Foundation or St. John’s Catholic Church in care of Baalmann Mortuary, 109 N 2nd St, Atwood, KS 67730. Online condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com