By Patricia Kasten | On Mission
APPLETON — Almost three years ago, on his 40th anniversary of ordination to the diaconate, Deacon Maury Reed mentioned how much he loved clouds. “Their formations tell me about the presence of God,” he said. “What a shame it is when we miss that presence.”
Deacon Maurice “Maury” Reed, 92, died on Friday, Feb. 9, in Appleton.
He was born in Manitowoc on June 1, 1931, to Bernard and Agnes (Hoolihan) Reed. Following graduation from Manitowoc High School, he attended the University of Wisconsin–Manitowoc and then joined the United States Army, serving in Europe.
“I grew up in the Army,” he said in his jubilee interview. As a young man, he noted that he had been afraid to speak in front of groups. However, with his battery commander’s encouragement, who had him read the Bible out loud in a group, Deacon Reed conquered that fear.
“I was an instructor for 60 guys, so I grew up in the Army,” he said, “That was a miracle. I was communications chief at the end.”
He also earned the rank of master sergeant.
On Oct. 29, 1955, he and Janice Champine married in Manitowoc. He worked at Mirro Aluminum Company, then at Hamilton Manufacturing in Two Rivers.
The couple then moved to Greenville, where Deacon Reed worked at Valley School Suppliers. He later owned Interplan Sales LTD, and a Real Chili restaurant in downtown Appleton.
On May 16, 1981, he was ordained a deacon and served St. Bernard Parish for his entire ministry.
He also served as director of the diaconate office for the Diocese of Green Bay from 1982 until his retirement in 2002. His experience led him to become both president and treasurer of the National Association of Deacon Directors for the United States, traveling to dioceses around the country.
Deacon Reed’s ministryat the diocese led him to work with many people.
“My association (with Deacon Reed) goes back to the days when Maury was director of the diaconate office and I was acting chair of the Liturgical Commission,” said Fr. Paul Demuth, who serves as priest celebrant at St. Bernard. “In his own quiet way, Maury did an excellent job of overseeing the formation of deacons and their relationship with the parishes in which they served.”
Deacon Reed always told others that his call to the diaconate came suddenly. He and Janice had long been involved in their parish, but, one day, a parish service commitment form arrived in the mail.
“On the bottom of the commitment,” Deacon Reed recalled, “it said, ‘Would you be interested in serving your parish as a deacon?’ As I sat there, I realized that this was something I would like to do. It was sort of an evolution of the ministry I had been in. It was an instant decision.”
He said he was surprised by the call, but his wife wasn’t. He later said that this sudden vocation call was, for him, another example of God’s miraculous presence.
When Deacon Reed approached his pastor, Fr. Orv Janssen, about his vocation call, he remembered the priest nodding during his explanation.
“I thought, ‘How affirming that is,’” Deacon Reed said. “So then (Fr. Janssen) asked me, ‘What would you do as a deacon?’ And I said, ‘We’ll let the Holy Spirit handle that.’”
When he was asked at his 40th jubilee about the key to the diaconal ministry, Deacon Reed said, very firmly, “service.”
After retirement from the diocesan offices, Deacon Reed’s service continued at his parish. He continued to serve at Mass, led Liturgy of the Word with Communion services, visited the homebound and hospitalized, and led funeral services, especially at funeral homes.
“More recently,” Fr. Demuth said, “I renewed acquaintances with (Deacon Reed) in my role as sacramental minister at St. Bernard’s, Appleton. Already in his 90s, he remained as sharp as ever and kiddingly (I think!) told me exactly how long my homilies lasted — ‘Today, it was nine minutes and 20 seconds!’”
When asked, at his 40th jubilee, if any moment in ministry stood out, Deacon Reed answered: “I’m not sure about it boiling down to any moment, but there’s so many moments. Just a continuous feeling that this is the right direction. Then I think I kind of understood the word ‘vocation’ and what that entails. … I have been just so blessed so many times.”
Fr. Demuth said he also saw Deacon Reed as a blessing.
“He came so close to death so many times over the past months, but always returned for Mass with a smile, a joke and, of course, his deep faith in Christ. Now he gets to meet face to face the God who loved him so much! An early Easter for Maury!”
Deacon Reed is survived by his nine children: Maurie (Wendy) Reed, Greg (Jean) Reed, Jim Reed, Lisa (Bill) Moede, Angie (Brian) Jansen, Mike (Vickie) Reed, Julie Love, Carey (Amy) Reed and Jennifer Reed; 27 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren; a brother, Ed (Marie Jo) Reed; sister, Elaine (Phillip) Fischer; and two sisters-in-law, Cheryl Ellerman and Irene Champine.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, six siblings, his father- and mother-in-law, and several brothers and sisters.
A Mass of Resurrection was to be celebrated at 12 noon on Saturday, Feb. 17, at St. Bernard Church, 1617 W. Pine St., Appleton, with Bishop David Ricken as celebrant. Friends may visit the church on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. Military honors will follow the Mass.
A memorial fund has been established. A livestream of the funeral Mass can be viewed at 12 noon Saturday, Feb. 17, at: stbernardappleton.org/communications