Jeanine Reeves

Jeanine was born on September 10, 1947, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she enjoyed spending time at the family’s cottage on Crystal Lake and began her lifelong love of music began at an early age. At just five years old, she began singing in the children’s choir at First Congregational Church, and from that moment, music became a constant thread woven through her life.

Throughout high school, Jeanine sang in every choir available to her. She and her sister, Carol, who was four years older and later made her home in Florida, shared a special love of singing together. Their harmonies were, by all accounts, perfect. Among their favorites were Girl Scout songs, including “Little Drop of Dew,” a simple song that captured something of the joy they found in making music together.

Jeanine continued her musical journey at Michigan State University, where she sang with the Women’s Glee Club. After graduating, she began her 30 year-long professional career with IBM and moved to Endicott, New York. Even as her career took her to new places, singing remained an important part of her life. She joined community choirs and continued to find connection and friendship through music.

An IBM transfer eventually took Jeanine to Boulder, Colorado in the early 80’s — because, as she said, “Why not Boulder?” There she discovered another great passion: skiing. She joined the Flat Irons Ski Club and loved the adventure of heading out on weekend ski trips with friends, enjoying the mountains and the community that came with them.

Jeanine was married in Boulder for 16 years and became part of a larger family raising six stepchildren. Through the years, church and music continued to be important parts of her life. She attended a Catholic church in Boulder and sang in its choir for 16 years.

In 1996 on a fall hike Jeanine met Marty Heuduck, who was leading the hike, and 1n 1999 they formed a family. Together they took many trips across the country in the mobile home. They enjoyed an active life together. Eventually, Jeanine, with the support of Marty, felt a calling to return to church in a way that reflected who she was and what she valued. She was looking for an open and affirming congregation. She tried several churches, but something about First Congregational Church UCC of Boulder felt different.

Perhaps it was the beautiful mosaic created by Marty’s father that hung in Plymouth Hall. Perhaps it was the choir. Perhaps it was the people she met there. Or perhaps it was the combination of all three. Whatever the reason, Jeanine found what she had been looking for. First Congregational Church of Boulder became home.

Music was more than a pastime for Jeanine. It was a way she connected with people, expressed joy, built friendships, and found belonging. From singing as a five-year-old in Grand Rapids, to harmonizing with her sister Carol, to the Michigan State Women’s Glee Club, community choirs in New York, church choirs, and finally the choir at First Congregational Church in Boulder, singing accompanied her throughout her life.

Jeanine leaves behind a legacy of music, friendship, adventure, faith, and love. Those who knew her will remember the joy she found in singing, the beauty of harmony, her love of the mountains and skiing, and the importance she placed on finding a community where everyone could feel at home.

Her life was, in many ways, a song — carried from childhood through every place she lived and every community she joined and shared generously with the people around her. Jeanine is survived by her partner, Marty Heuduck, and their playful cat, Moki.

A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Jeanine will be held on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 2:00p.m. at First Congregational Church UCC Boulder (1128 Pine Street, Boulder, CO 80302).

In memory of Jeanine and her love of nature and the church, donations can be made to The Nature Conservancy at https://preserve.nature.org/

OR

to the First Congregational Church UCC Boulder Legacy Endowment Fund at https://onrealm.org/firstcong/give/legacyfund.