Jack was the beloved husband of Cynthia (who predeceased him), and devoted father to Liz Wooster (Richard), Ann Pulver (Scott), Cindy Rehm, and JD Rehm (Kathy). He was the loving grandfather of 11, Jonathan Hopper (Dominic), Ally Hopper, Katey Zeig (Alex), Jack, Christopher, Annie, Will and Matthew Rehm, and Sally, Redmond and Lily Pulver. Jack is also survived by his sister Linda Nyselius (Ron) and sisters-in-law Esther Fenning and Robin DeMartin (Bob), as well as many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by sisters Virginia Tehan and Ann Bennett.
Born on October 10, 1932 in Yonkers, NY to Ann (nee McCarthy) and Jack Rehm, Jack was a proud graduate of The College of the Holy Cross (‘54) where he was an active alumnus and served on the Board of Trustees and later the Advisory Committee of the College. He chaired the Lift High the Cross Capital Campaign which concluded in 2001. Jack was humbled to receive an Honorary Degree as a Doctor of Humane Letters from the College in 2013.
Cynthia and Jack raised their family in Scarsdale, NY from 1963 until they moved to Des Moines, Iowa in 1981.
Jack was with Meredith Corporation for most of his career. He started in 1963 as a salesman for Better Homes and Gardens and rose through the ranks and retired as Chairman and CEO in 1996, remaining on the Board until 2001. While living in Des Moines, Jack was an active member of the community. He reaped well-deserved tributes as a key player in urban renewal, expansion and bringing new life and new opportunities to the city. He served as chairman of the Drake University Board of Governors, received the key to city in 1997, and was inducted into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame in 1999. Jack also sat on the Boards of both Principal Insurance and International Multifoods.
Friends said about Jack that he had an excess of the traits that made him a leader. He was intelligent, confident, honest, decisive, and very grateful. Yet, Jack never got his identity through his job, but rather as a loving husband and proud father and grandfather. It was with his family that Jack received his greatest joy.
Jack was a man of great faith. He loved and honored God and raised his family to do the same. The Catholic Mass was always a place of solitude, reverence and peace for him.
Jack was passionate about sports. He loved to play paddle tennis, golf (a proud Morgan Cup winner!) and can be remembered for running throughout his lifetime. He coached his children in many sports including basketball & baseball. He was an avid and exceptionally good bridge player, where he was known to take no prisoners.
Jack had a keen sense of humor and loved being around people. No matter where he lived, he surrounded himself with friends. All who knew him described him as a true gentleman and a man of great integrity.
A Celebration of Jack’s Life will be held at St. Christopher’s Church in Hobe Sound, FL on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA.
