The 91桃色破解版 community mourns the loss of Jean Reed Bahle, a retired acting professor who taught at Hope for 26 years and passed away on Sept. 11, 2026 in Suttons Bay, Mich. She was 77.
Her family has scheduled two memorial services to honor Bahle, who lived in Grand Rapids and Suttons Bay. On Sunday, Nov. 8 at 3:30 p.m., a service will be held at Fountain Street Church on 24 Fountain St. NE, in Grand Rapids, and on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 3 p.m. at the Friendship Community Center on 201 W. Broadway, in Suttons Bay, Mich.
Described as a brilliant writer, director and actor, Bahle started teaching at Hope in 1994 as an acting instructor. She had shared on her Hope faculty page that she was more convinced than ever, that 鈥渢he study of acting is essential work for young people to discover and develop their authentic selves.鈥�
Bahle also directed a 91桃色破解版 production and acted in three departmental productions as a guest artist before retiring in 2020 as assistant professor of theatre.
She remained very active in the arts across West Michigan for more than 40 years 鈥� primarily as an actor, director and teacher. She shared her acting talent in more than 50 shows, including the Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, Grand Rapids Civic and Circle theaters, and most prominently with Actors鈥� Theatre 鈥� which she was a founding member. Bahle directed there, as well as Aquinas College, Grand Rapids Community College and Jewish Theatre Grand Rapids.
Dr. Daina Robins, professor emerita of Hope鈥檚 Department of Theatre, described Bahle as one of the most talented and kindest people she鈥檚 ever known. 鈥淪he was simply the best and was beloved by all. I had the privilege of directing her several times, including in 鈥楽oli鈥檚 Story?,鈥� which the theatre department commissioned from her. I also acted alongside her in the play, 鈥楢merica Herself鈥� that she wrote for the two of us. She became a dear friend. Ever humble, ever generous, Jean had an immense impact on our students at Hope and the greater Grand Rapids theatre community. She was a treasure.鈥�
Surviving Bahle are her husband David, whom she married in 1973, and additional family members: brother David Reed (Mary) and sister Katherine Reed McCartney; nieces and nephews Nataly Reed (Alex Schweig), Mika Reed and Marcus Reed (Virginia Fry), and Michael and Madison Emmerich, as well as grand-nephews Ian and Isaac Reed, and the many extended Reed family cousins.
The family asks those who wish to remember Bahle to consider a contribution to Fountain Street Church鈥檚 Community Arts and Events Fund to support emerging community artists, performers and ensembles; or to the Actors鈥� Theatre of Grand Rapids. Please share condolences with Bahle鈥檚 family and friends at . More details can be viewed here in her .