Kip Reaves, 71

Kip Reaves, age 71, of Lapeer, MI, previously of Florida and Imlay City died Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Kip Reaves was born October 13, 1952 in Detroit, MI. Kip was a graduate of the Imlay City High School, Class of 1970 and earned a degree at Baker College. He married Gayle Louise Lenning on July 14, 2000, in Lapeer, MI.

Kip had been employed by Chrysler Corporation for 31 years retiring in 2002 as an Engineer. He began his public service career as a volunteer fireman with Arcadia Township Fire Department in 1976. Kip graduated from the Police Academy in 1980 and took a part-time position as a Reserve Officer with the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Dept. and the Almont Police Dept. He joined the Imlay City Fire Dept. in 1986 and became the Imlay City Fire Chief in 2002. Kip retired as the Fire Chief from the Imlay City Fire Dept. in 2014. He was a past member of the Imlay City Lions Club. Kip was the recipient of the Imlay City 2014 Citizen of the Year Award. In retirement Kip and Gayle had moved to Florida for a few years and recently moved back to Lapeer.

He is survived by his wife, Gayle Reaves; daughters, Amy (Ryan) Nolin of Imlay City, MI, Summer Reaves of Utica, MI, Carmen (Padraic) Smith of NC and Candice (DJ) Parks of Clinton Township, MI; siblings, Mark (Shelley Lee) Reaves, John (Vicky) Moenaert, Vic (Joanne) Moenaert, Janet Moenaert and Paulie Moenaert. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Xander Nolin, Kage Winnen, Hailey Parks and Knoella Parks.

Kip was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Frances Moenaert; granddaughter, Chase Winnen; and his sister, Judy Moenaert.

A Firefighters Salute will be held at 5 p.m., Saturday, July 20, 2024, at the Muir Brothers Funeral Home of Imlay City, 225 N. Main Street, Imlay City, MI. The family will be available for visitation 1-6 p.m., Saturday, July 20 at Muir Brothers Funeral Home of Imlay City.

The family requests instead of flowers, please donate in Kip’s name to one of the three following organizations: Neighbors United (www.walkforthered. org), Cornelia de Lang Syndrome Foundation (CdLS) at (www.
cdlsusa.org), or Moffit’s Cancer Center (www.moffitt.org).

Arrangements were entrusted to Muir Brothers Funeral Home of Imlay City.

Please be sure to sign our online register at www.muirbrothersfh.com to share condolences and memories with the Reaves family.