Carl Edgar Reiste

So God made a farmer, and so much more. Carl Edgar Reiste, 82, of Adel, IA passed away peacefully, Friday October 10, 2025 at home on the family farm. Carl was born February 7th, 1943, to Ed and Nettie (Hildreth) Reiste of Adel, Iowa. He was the youngest of three Reiste brothers, Richard, George and Carl. He grew up working on the family farm and enjoying hunting, trapping, fishing and motorcycles.

Carl graduated from Minburn in 1961, then attended college at McPherson College in KS. He later transferred to Iowa State University to study Ag Science. Carl and three others petitioned to start a Rodeo Club for Iowa State, in which he competed in bareback riding. His passion for rodeo continued after college competing in the United Rodeo Association (URA) and the Iowa Rodeo Cowboys Association (IRCA) in both bareback and bull riding.

Carl was united in marriage to Jennie Mae Crouch on August 27, 1966. Carl enlisted in the Army National Guard Fifth Battalion Company E in 1965 and served until 1972, during the Vietnam War. It was in the military that he crafted his mechanical skills working on tanks and large equipment. Carl went on to work as a mechanic at Moss Bros. Massey Ferguson Dealership for many years.

Carl and Jennie started their family and were blessed with two children, Steven and Linda and extended family member Kimberly Marie (Rector) Greenley and later a proud grandfather to Laura and Jared Reiste.

Carl was very active on and off the farm. Carl and Jennie were awarded the Farm Bureau Young Farmer Family award. Carl served on the Panora Coop Board Directors and was a Deacon for the Panther Creek Church of the Brethren. Carl’s love of cattle and farming was the inspiration for activities he shared with his children. Carl was a 4-H leader for the Washington Winners Club that he and his children both belonged to. Carl began raising Purebred Gelbvieh cattle that became another lifelong passion. Carl and his children started showing cattle they raised, to promote the Rafter R Gelbvieh business. For many years he was the Advisor for the Iowa Junior Gelbvieh Association and served as the treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Iowa Gelbvieh Association.

He enjoyed spending time with his two grandchildren and loved that they too, had the same passion for farm life.

Many afternoons while in the combine or tractor, Carl spent listening to WHO Radio where he listened to Paul Harvey.. One fitting poem that Paul Harvey wrote was Carl’s legacy in life, “So God Made a Farmer”.

Carl is survived by his wife of 59 years Jennie; Son Steven Reiste (Leann), grandchildren Laura and Jared of Adel, Iowa. Linda (Reiste) Shumate, of Bloomfield, Iowa and Kim Greenley (Paul) of Panora, Iowa, plus many nephews –nieces and many friends. Carl was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers and two nieces.

A Celebration of Life will be Saturday November 15, 2025 at 2: 00 pm at the Panther Creek Church of the Brethren, Adel, Iowa. Please bring your stories and pictures to share!