Todd Reed

There might not have been a bigger fan of Bob Dylan. Todd entertained his high school classmates with his versions of "Blowing in the Wind" and "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" at parties and in talent shows at Davenport Central High (Class of '82), then went on to sing at various bars in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area when he attended the University of Northern Iowa.

Following in Dylan's footsteps, Todd dropped out of UNI and pursued life in the Big Apple. But, eventually he grew to miss his hometown, and returned to Davenport in the late '80s and began a series of jobs in graphic design and printing. Along the way, he continued to play (and collect) acoustic and electric guitars.

Fiercely liberal, Todd had a specific, idealistic sense of how things should work. He didn't care if others disagreed with his views. Consequently, he ruffled feathers. In the end, though, he would acquiesce and make amends, figuring that friendship was more important than "being right."

Along with music, Todd loved dogs (especially German Shepherds), rabbits, cigarettes, a stiff drink, reading, the Buffalo Bills and laughter.

Complex. Loyal. Nostalgic. Todd was all of these. His was the last chapter of a complicated family. Mother, Shirley, died in August 2021, after a brief but spirited fight with cancer. (Todd served as her loving caretaker the entire way.) Brother, Christopher, passed in August 2015, at the age of 52. Father, Robert or "Buzzy", died in 2005.

Rest in peace, Todd. We love you.

Arrangements for a Celebration of Life are pending, and will be announced via Facebook.