Owen Reischman

Gene Reischman, a prominent and successful Roswell business man for 46 years, died Friday, November 3, 2006 at his home. He was 88years old.

Services will be held at 2pm Friday, November 10, 2006 at the First United Methodist Church where he was an active member since moving his family to Roswell in 1940. The Rev. Archie Echols will officiate. Internment will be at South Park Cemetery.

Mr. Reischman, born on July 7, 1918 in Wellington Kansas, was the son of Lester James LJ and Frankie Ruth Cates Reischman. His childhood was spent in Breckenridge, Texas and he attended Texas Tech University.

Gene and his first wife, Sue Dorothy Sue Butler, moved to Roswell to enter into a bakery business which would become known as the Holsum Baking Company, located for many years at the corner of 8th and Main street. The business evolved to serve a large marketing area including Southern and Eastern New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. The bakery received the Industry of the Year award in 1975 from the Roswell Chamber of Development and Commerce after a major expansion and modernization.

Mr. Reischman was active nationally in the baking industry, serving on the Board of Governors of the American Bakers Association and the Board of Directors of the Independent Bakers Association. He also served as Chairman for the W.E. Long Company International Bakers Cooperative. Holsum Baking Company was eventually sold and under Genes leadership the business interest developed into Holsum Incorporated, a large corporation with varied business interests including dairy, broadcasting, communications Caprock Communications, and oil exploration.

Mr. Reischman was also an active leader in the banking business for many years. He was a bank director for First Interstate Bank formerly Roswell State Bank from 1954 to 1983.

Gene was a community leader and served as Chairman of the Board of Education for the Roswell school system from 1953-1960. He was an active member of the Roswell Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club and the Elks Lodge. In 1993 he received the Paul Harris Fellow Rotary Award.
PGene will always be remembered as a loyal and loving husband, and supportive, kind, loving and giving Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather. He was predeceased by his first wife, Sue 1965 and brother, Harvey, and sister, Alice Marie Smith. He is survived by his second wife Anna; his seven children, Suzanne Carriere Knoxville TN, Gene Jr. Mignon Austin TX, Lester Connie Albuquerque NM, Mike Barbara Corpus Christi TX, Rosalyn Patrick Brackett Jacksonville FL, Marc Patricia Roswell, Rick Patricia Houston TX; thirteen grandchildren, Candy Terry Cole Wichita KS, Joe Georganne Carriere Jr. Greenville NC, Allison John Ferko Alexandria VA, Matthew Reischman Austin TX, Michael Reischman Atlanta GA, Richard Reischman Austin TX, Mary Reischman Santa Monica CA, Christopher and Nathaniel Brackett Jacksonville FL, Caitlin and Benjamin Reischman Roswell, Autumn and Austin Reischman Houston, Texas; seven great grandchildren Matthew and Christa Cole Wichita, KS, Jackson and Gabrielle Carriere, Greenville NC, Andrew and Nicholas Ferko, Alexandria VA; three stepchildren Charles Dana Nearburg Dallas TX, Mark Kim Nearburg Austin, TX, Gena Nearburg Dallas;

Visitation

LaGrone Funeral Chapel
900 South Main
Roswell, NM  88203
Thursday, November 9, 2006
9:00 A.M. TO 7:00 P.M.

Service

Funeral

First United Methodist Church
200 N. Pennsylvania
Roswell, NM  88201
Friday, November 10, 2006
2:00 P.M.

Cemetery

South Park Cemetery
3101 S. Main
Roswell, NM  88203

Memorial Contributions

The First United Methodist Church
200 N. Pennsylvania
Roswell, NM  88201