Deanna “Dee” L. Reinhardt
Deanna “Dee” L. Reinhardt, 72, passed away from a high-grade brain tumor on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at The Monarch in Lincoln.
A celebration of Dee’s life was held on Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at the Cairo United Methodist Church. The Pastor Kalaba Kapundu officiated. Dee received a final call from the Cairo Quick Response Team at 1:15 p.m. Inurnment was at the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Dannebrog. As per her wishes, cremation has taken place.
The family greeted friends on Tuesday, December 26th at the Cairo United Methodist Church. Apfel Funeral Home is serving the family.
Dee was born March 21, 1951 to Wayne (Joe) and Velma Stewart in St.
Paul.
Dee attended grade school in Dannebrog and graduated from Centura High School in 1969. Dee married Jerry Reinhardt in 1971 and lived in Grand Island, Phillips, and Cairo. Dee worked as a hairdresser for several years in Grand Island. In 1978, the family moved to Cairo to farm ground where Jerry’s parents had farmed for many years.
In 1983, Dee was a founding member of the Cairo Quick Response Team and became the secretary- treasurer from 1985 until her death. Dee became a member of the Nebraska Emergency Medical Services Association in 1988, where she was a track leader for annual conferences until 2018.
In 1996, she moved from the farm to Cairo, where she resided until being admitted to the hospital in October. After moving into Cairo, she began working at Younkers in Grand Island and worked as a manager until the store closed in 2017. After retirement, she kept busy with volunteering at the Gathering Place in Cairo, preparing and delivering meals. She started bowling in the mid eighties and bowled in numerous leagues over the years. She always looked forward to the annual girls’ trip to the Women’s National Bowling Championship. She was the secretary-treasurer for the Twilight League for over twenty years.
She spent a lot of time golfing various courses across Nebraska with her significant other, Randy.
Her grandkids were the light of her life, and she spent as much time as she could with them either bowling, mini-golfing, golfing, or watching them play sports.
Survivors include a daughter, Cindie (Brad) Jisa of Lincoln; son Todd of Lincoln; grandchildren, Austin Jisa of Omaha, and Tyler and Reese Reinhardt of Hastings; mother, Velma Stewart of St. Paul; brothers, Randy (Louise) of Silver Creek, Lonnie (Aldene) of St. Paul, Rod of Grand Island, Tom Metcalf (Bob) of Ecuador; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, Wayne (Joe); brother, Eudel; infant sister, Beverly; and significant other, Randy Stover.
Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date to agencies that were close to Dee’s heart.
Richard attended Star Country School until the eighth grade and graduated from Wolbach High School in Wolbach.
Richard worked on the family farm with his father and siblings, and later worked for a local farmer until he enlisted in the United States Army, where he learned to be a mechanic and was honorably discharged. He earned the Good Conduct Medal while in the Army.
On December 13, 1958, he married Virgie Berney in Marysville, Kansas.
To this union, they had four daughters: Dawn, Ronnette, Carmen, and Deirdra.
Richard farmed with his father and on his own land north of Wolbach. He was recognized for making the best hay stacks in the area. He would help with Stuart Teter at his garage in Wolbach, a few times, during the winter months, while working on his tractor. Later, he worked with Don and Art Anderson, Mike McIntyre, Randy Christensen, and for many years with Larry Steenson.
Richard and Virgie enjoyed going on trips with Bill and Colleen Zyntek, and Donald and Joyce Berney. He took some trips to the casinos up north with their longtime friends, Carl and Dona Ondracek.
Richard enjoyed gardening, bowling, polka music, watching Western television shows, Sudoku, playing cards, the board games Wahoo, reading, visiting with family and friends, taking long drives to see the countryside, and most of all he enjoyed time with his girls, and the many generations of grandchildren.
Richard was a member and council member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Wolbach. He was a member of the Ray Mapes American Legion Post 236 and had served as the legion commander. He had served on the Farmer Union Service Station Board, was a member of the Wolbach Rodeo Club, and spent many hours improving the rodeo grounds.
Richard is survived by daughters, Dawn and Kenneth Miller, of Grand Island; Ronnette and Alan Schneider, of Schuyler; Carmen Potratz, of Columbus; and Deirdra and Kirk French, of Hooper; grandchildren, Jacqueline Leitschuck, Valerie Galvan and Daniel Stubblefield, Brandon Miller, Aleasha Potratz and fiancé, Riley Logue, JR French and Connor Weigel, Evan French and fiancée, Mary Saeed, and Eric French and Valaree Busse; great grandchildren: Jonathan Leitschuck, Alyssa Leitschuck and Dave Reeves, Wyatt Lee, Shaylee Miller, Mikaela and Matt Proehl; great-great grandchildren: Addison, Noah, and Knox Proehl, and Jamie Reeves; sister, JoAnn Abboud of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and very dear friend of the family, Betsy Kish, Omaha; sisters-in-law, Jody Cordes of Prosser; Joyce Berney of Wolbach; and LaVon Berney of Hastings; sisters-in-law and brothers- in-law: Loyla and Ron Vogel of Davis, California and Kathy and Chuck Houtby of Wolbach; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Minnie Cordes; wife, Virgie Cordes on July 2, 2016; brothers, Ronald Cordes and Donald Cordes; brother-in-law, Ronald Abboud; in-laws, Loyal “Charley” and Irene Berney; and brothers-in -law, Donald Berney and Galen Berney.
The Phonograph-Herald | January 3, 2024