Jay Richard Reichmuth was born on November 10, 1961 in Omaha, Nebraska to Bill and Janet (Carson) Reichmuth, the youngest of their three children. He grew up in Valley, Nebraska where he attended grade school and graduated from Valley High School in 1980. Jay enjoyed a typical small town childhood, filled with friends, neighborhood activities and sports. Jay was a well-rounded athlete, excelled as a starting center on the football team but his passion and talent shined as a baseball player. There was some speculation that he should have pursued playing college baseball. Jay graduated from Northeast Nebraska Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska with an associate degree in Mortuary Science. He graduated from Mortuary School in San Antonio, Texas and returned home to work at Swanson Funeral Home in Valley and Elkhorn.

Jay married Paula Rawdon on November 24, 1990 at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. They have made their home in Nashville, Florence, Kentucky and Batesville, Indiana. Jay’s professional career has taken him to Nashville, Cincinnati and the past 28 years in Batesville, Indiana at the Weigel Funeral Home. Jay was a dedicated funeral director and proudly served the Batesville community. He was active in the Batesville Kiwanis and served for many years as chairman of the Applefest Committee. He was also a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and the Indiana Funeral Directors Association. Jay attended St. Louis Catholic Church in Batesville and served on the Batesville Water and Gas Utility Service Board.

Jay loved his wife very much and made sure that anything she needed always came first. He held a great depth of love for all of his family and he especially adored his nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews. Jay was dedicated in providing service to his families during their time of loss. Jay loved the work that he did knowing he was offering comfort and peace to those he served.

Jay passed away on Monday, July 31, 2023 at his home in Batesville at the age of 61 years, 8 months and 21 days. He was preceded in death by his father Bill. Jay is survived by his wife Paula of Batesville; mother Janet Reichmuth of Elkhorn, NE; siblings Jon (Mary) Reichmuth of Elkhorn, NE and Kim (Mike) Loseke Columbus, NE; father and mother in law Bob and Georgia Rawdon; sister and brother in law Patty (Jerry) Seiber and brother and sister in law Rob (Becky) Rawdon, all of Hohenwald, TN; nieces and nephews, Heather Loseke, Sarah (Dustin) Kessler and Ellen (Kevin) Thomsen, Christopher (Melessia) Seiber, Erinn (Kyle) Roberson, Robert Rawdon III and Ethan (Jennifer) Rawdon; great nieces and great nephews Karly, Nyla, Scarlet and Clyne Kessler, Gemma Thomsen and Nola Lill, Amelia and Hallie Seiber, Brayden Lill, Vance Kessler, Thayer Thomsen, Eli Seiber, Case and Brooks Roberson.

Visitation will be held Thursday, August 3rd, from 4 – 7 p.m. at Weigel Funeral Home in Batesville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, August 5th at St. John’s Catholic Church in Valley, NE and burial will be at the Davis Cemetery in Hohenwald, TN. In lieu of flowers, memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105).

McDonald Funeral Home is honored to be locally serving Mr. Reichmuth’s family.