The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce has selected longtime resident Jan Reeb as the recipient of the 2026 Gem of the Year Award. Reeb will be formally honored during Rotary’s Day in the Park celebration in August.
A lifelong Antwerp resident, Reeb has spent 75 years calling the village home and graduated from Antwerp High School in 1969. Following graduation, she attended beauty college at Ravenscroft and later opened her own beauty shop, “The Shadow,” becoming a familiar and friendly face to generations of Antwerp residents.
Throughout her life, Reeb has worn many hats in the community. In addition to operating her beauty shop, she worked as a babysitter for numerous local families and later served for many years as a member of the town council and most recently as Mayor. Her caring personality and ability to connect with people left a lasting impact on many of the children and families she cared for over the years.
Reeb said one of the things she treasures most about Antwerp is the people.
“Your town’s only as good as the people in it,” Reeb said. “People make the town. You’ve got to have good people, and I think we do. I think we’ve got a lot of good people. It’s just a great old town, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
She also spoke proudly of the welcoming nature of the village and the way residents look out for one another. Whether visiting local businesses, attending ballgames, or simply chatting with neighbors, Reeb said she enjoys the sense of connection that comes with living in a small town.
“It amazes me when people call me by name and talk to me,” she said. “It’s a friendly little town. I love it.”
Reeb and her husband John have two sons, Matthew and the late Jason, along with grandchildren and extended family members who remain closely connected to the Antwerp area. She said she is encouraged to see younger families continuing to return to the community and is hopeful for future growth and development in the village.
Nominations submitted on Reeb’s behalf repeatedly highlighted her years of dedicated service to Antwerp and the lasting impact she made on the village through her leadership and compassion for residents.
One nomination stated, “Jan showed her long-standing dedication to Antwerp by serving on town council and as Mayor for many years. She demonstrated her commitment to the well-being and growth of our community. Jan put in countless hours to improve Antwerp by listening to residents and guiding thoughtful decisions to better our town.”
Another nomination praised Reeb’s decades of service, noting, “20+ years serving on Council and Mayor, she has given many years and time to Antwerp.”
Others pointed to her journey from business owner to village leader, writing, “She has given many years to Antwerp – first as a business woman owning a beauty salon and then for our town as an office worker and bookkeeper. She then became a council woman voted in by the Antwerp people. As Council President she replaced Ray DeLong and finished his term, then was voted in as mayor twice before her retirement last year.”
Several residents emphasized the personal care Reeb showed toward community members. “She really cared about the people and businesses of our town,” one resident wrote. “Please make her our Gem of Antwerp.”
Another nomination stated, “She has shown genuine love for our community with all of her years of service in the village. Even when faced with extreme personal challenges she continued giving the town all she could until she was no longer able. She deserves to be recognized for decades of love, loyalty and dependability to this town. She is a true Gem.”
Other nominations credited Reeb’s leadership with helping guide improvements and growth throughout the community during her years in office.
When informed she had been selected as this year’s Gem of the Year, Reeb said she was both surprised and humbled.
“I’m in shock,” she said. “I just can’t believe it. I love everybody. I try to be friendly and talk to everybody.”
The Gem of the Year Award recognizes individuals who have made a lasting positive impact on the Antwerp community through their service, kindness, and dedication to others. Chamber members said Reeb’s lifelong commitment to the village and her warm, caring spirit make her a deserving recipient of this year’s honor.
The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce invites the community to join in celebrating Jan Reeb during Rotary’s Day in the Park in August.