Georgia Louise Reeg

Georgia Louise (Menzie) Reeg, 96, passed away peacefully at 11:55 a.m. Friday, November 21, 2014 with her loving family surrounding her. She was born the daughter of Charles J. and Mary B. (Gawthrop) Menzie in Washington Township, near Pierceton, Kosciusko County, IN.

Georgia grew up on Twin Pines Farms, the Menzie family homestead, in Kosciusko County, which was in the family for more than 100 years. She attended Pierceton Schools, graduating as Salutatorian from Pierceton High School with the Class of 1935.

Georgia met L. Eugene Gene Reeg, the son of Frank and Rozzie (Bentz) Reeg at a social dance and as they say, the rest was history.They were united in marriage on January 28, 1938. The wedding took place in the parsonage of Rev. Howard J. Brown of the Forest Park M.E. Church, Fort Wayne.Rev. Brown and his wife Helen were Georgias former employers, caring for their daughters, Jacie and Patsy.

After her marriage she and Gene farmed his fathers farm in Cleveland Township, near South Whitley. They then lived on the Reuben Bentz farm on Liberty Mills Road, near South Whitley, moving in 1945 to Collamer where she and Gene purchased a farm that was destroyed by a fire. From January 1947 to June 1949 they lived with her parents. In June 1949 she and Gene moved to 416 West Van Buren Street, Columbia City where she spent the rest of her life time. Gene quit farming and began selling cars with his brother Dale. They first operated a used car lot on North Main Street, north of the alley behind Star Financial Bank. Later the sales lot was moved to 600 South Main Street, where it remains today.

Shorty after he opened Gene Reeg Motor Sales at the corner of Main and Market Street in Columbia City in September 1949 Georgia began working in the office part-time and eventually becoming full time. In the beginning, the firm sold Pontiac and GMC vehicles and in 1952 Frigidaire appliances were added. The Frigidaire line was dropped in 1997. Georgias brother, Forrest Si Menzie worked in that area until he retired in 1992. Also in 1960 with Genes help she built and owned the Penguin Point Restaurant at the corner of South Main and Chicago Streets, expanding the building twice, it is currently Big Gs. She and Gene built and co-owned with Genes brother Dale, Penguin Point in Rochester, in the 1960s. In 1960 she and Gene bought a new semi tractor and trailer for over the road hauling.

Georgia was an avid I.U. fan and truly enjoyed construction projects and over the years remodeled several buildings. A year-long remodeling of the dealership building by Cotton Gall, which more than doubled its showroom, was completed in September 1964. She then worked on several projects with Alvin and Kay Coyle including remodeling her home in the mid 1960s and the apartments above the dealership. Georgia had very few hobbies because she possessed a very strong work ethic and spent her hours dedicated to her profession.

Until Genes death on October 21, 1969, as a result of an automobile accident, they worked side by side in the business with him in charge of sales and she doing the accounting. With the help of a daughter and son, Jana and Melvin, she continued operating the business on her own after Genes death and in 1970 became one of the first female auto franchise owner in the nation. In 1989 a granddaughter, Denise Pequignot, joined the firm, becoming the third generation active in the business along with a grandson, Gavin Reeg who worked at the dealership during high school.In 1990 Georgia purchased the former Whitley County Jail at 116 East Market Street and added parking on the west side. Since 1993 the old jail has been used as a haunted jail for numerous Halloween fund raisers.

When I became franchised, I was the only woman owner in this area," she said in a 1990
interview. Ive heard that the word at the time was dont buy from her, she wont be around long.

Although still working six days a week at age 85, failing eyesight forced her retirement in the fall of 2003.

She was a member of United Methodist Church, Columbia City since 1950. She was very active in the churchs womens society for decades and served as its Past President several years ago. She also served on the church board for many years. Her memberships also included the Columbia City Chamber of Commerce, Whitley County Historical Society and she was a founding member of the Whitley County YMCA.

Survivors include her three children, Brenda L. (Jack F.) Robison, Indianapolis, Jana L. Reegand Melvin E. (Cathy) Reeg both of Columbia City. Five grandchildren, Melissa L. (David) Groves Warner, Yorba Linda, CA, Jennifer L. Groves, Indianapolis, Denise L. (Chad) Reeg Pequignot, South Whitley, Melanie K. Reeg, Fort Wayne and Gavin M. (Sarah) Reeg, Whitestown. Four great grandchildren, Shawn M. and Nicole R. Warner, Yorba Linda, CA, Seth M. and Sydney L. Pequignot, both of South Whitley.

Georgia is preceded in death by her parents, husband, one infant son, three siblings, Marjorie H. Menzie, 1920, Charles Junior Menzie, 1979 and Forrest D. Si Menzie, 1996 and one great granddaughter, Courtney L. Pequignot, 1998.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday,November 26, 2014 at the funeral home with Pastor David Arnold officiating. Burial and committal service will follow at Greenhill Cemetery, Columbia City. Memorial gifts may be given in Mrs. Reegs memory to Whitley County Community Foundation with memo designating for Columbia City United Methodist Church, the Whitley County Dazzlers Program or Passages, Inc. To view Georgias life story and send a condolence to the family please log onto www.demoneygrimes.com