The Rev. Dr. Norman S. Ream, longtime Senior Minister, and subsequently, Minister Emeritus of First Congregational Church, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, passed away on January 12, 2003. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on December 27, 1918, he had recently reached the age of 84.

Dr. Ream earned a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Utah in 1941, but soon decided he wanted to pursue a career in the ministry, a move for which he continued to be thankful, as did the many, many people with whom he worshiped. He went on to obtain his Master of Divinity degree in June 1944 from Garrett Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois. Upon graduation, he and Muriel Howe of River Forest, Illinois, were married. Dr. Ream then served, in succession, three Methodist churches in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 1944 to 1952, then moving to First Methodist Church of Neenah, Wisconsin, where he served as senior pastor for the ensuing six years.

In 1958, Dr. Ream was called to be the Senior Minister of First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, a position he held until 1983, when he and Muriel retired to their newly- built home on the outskirts of Estes Park, Colorado.

Among his many awards and recognitions while at the Wauwatosa church were an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree conferred by Piedmont College in Demorest Georgia, and three Freedoms Foundation awards in 1962, 1964, and the George Washington Medal of Freedom in 1967.

During his Wauwatosa ministry, Dr. Ream became a volunteer editor of The Congregationalist magazine, a member of the Executive Committee of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches, and served as Moderator of the Association. He was the author of Reflections on Man and Nature (1966) and Further Reflections on Man and Nature (1969). He also authored a number of articles in the Christian Century, Faith and Freedom, The Freeman, Christian Economics, The Congregationalist, and other publications. He has been a contributing editor to The Congregationalist for many years.

One of his many satisfying accomplishments was the organization in 1960 of the Wauwatosa Retired Men’s Club, which provided a needful meeting place in the Church, and the establishment of service activities for men 65 and over.

In 1966, with the leadership of Dr. Ream and the strong support of First Church members and friends, the development of Congregational Home, a retirement residence and health center in nearby Brookfield, was begun. Ground was broken in December of 1972, and initial residents were admitted in January of 1974. With two subsequent major additions, the Home continues its very successful operation, which includes many church members who provide volunteer assistance.

After the move to Estes Park in 1983, Dr. Ream became active in mountain hiking. With a long-existing love of the mountains and the wonders of nature, he enlisted as a volunteer in the neighboring Rocky Mountain National Park. He also was active in a variety of local community services.

Dr. Ream and his wife returned to Wisconsin last November, having taken up residency in Congregational Home.

A dedicated Christian pastor and believer in the strength and dignity of the individual, the Rev. Dr. Norman S. Ream served his people very well.