DEBRA L. REEFER
Debra Lynn Reefer 74, of Camdenton, MO passed away peacefully on Jan. 20, 2025 at the Laurie Care Center. A celebration of life will be planned for a later date.
Debra, daughter of Don and Lavonne Mangle, was born Nov. 7, 1950 in Fort Dodge, and grew up in Humboldt. She graduated from Humboldt High School in 1969 where she lettered in golf, choir and band. Deb was also a certified Water Safety Instructor and life guard. Her summer job during college was life guarding at the Humboldt swimming pool.
Deb started riding the family’s horses at an early age and was a member of the Humboldt Saddle Club. She told stories of taking many trail rides with her father and sister, camping overnight at the Ledges State Park. She enjoyed teaching many of her friends how to ride a horse. Deb also loved spending weekends at the family cabin at Spirit Lake where she enjoyed boating and water skiing. She was an excellent slalom skier and taught many of her friends how to water Ski. Whether it was skiing, boating, swimming or life guarding, Deb loved being on the water.
Deb attended Iowa State University earning a Bachelor’s Degree in physical education. She later returned to Iowa State and earned her Masters of Education in Multi Categorical Special Education. During her 27 years of teaching, Deb taught seven years of elementary physical education and 20 years teaching high school special education for students with learning disabilities. She was also a licensed athletic coach and coached high school girl’s golf, volley ball and gymnastics. Deb loved teaching and her students loved her.
Deb was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart Vince Reefer on June 2, 1972 at the United Methodist Church in Humboldt. Both Deb and Vince are life-long members of the Methodist Church. They both shared a common dream to live on a lake in retirement. In 2003 they built their dream home on Lake of the Ozarks and retired there in 2009. Deb spent the next ten years doing volunteer work at the Dogwood Animal Shelter where she loved taking care of the dogs and also served on the board of directors.
If you ever met Deb, you would always remember her radiant smile. She was a pure optimist who could find a silver lining in the darkest cloud. Her favorite things included: Watching her granddaughters open presents on Christmas morning; Going boating with friends and tying up in a quiet cove on a warm summer day; Attending the annual reunion with her Humboldt high school girlfriends Class of 1969; Or just going out to dinner with close friends.
Debra is survived by Vince her loving husband of 52 years; her son Zachary; her daughter Anna Kohl and husband Trevor, granddaughters Eva and Cleo Kohl. She was preceded in death by her parents Don and Lavonne Mangle, and her sister Diana (Mangle) Hogue.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to the Dogwood Animal Shelter, 1075 Runabout Dr. Osage Beach MO. 65065, or the Camdenton United Methodist Church, PO Box 88, Camdenton, MO 65020.