Obit: Reinhardt, Gerald J. Sr. (1924 - 2019)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Belanger, Durand, Koch, Krueger, Krug, Preske, Quednow, Radtke, Reinhardt, Semrau, Vlach

----Source: WIGM/WKEB Obituaries (Medford, WI) 3/13/2019

Reinhardt, Gerald J. “Whitey” Sr. (23 SEP 1924 - 9 MAR 2019)

Gerald J. “Whitey” Reinhardt Sr., 94 of Rib Lake, passed away on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at Rib Lake Health Services.

Jerry was born in Rib Lake on Tuesday, September 23, 1924, the son of John and Caroline (Preske) Reinhardt. He was a 1942 graduate of Rib Lake High School. He proudly served his country in the United States Army during WWII as a frontline Medic where he received a purple heart.

Whitey was employed as a delivery man for thirty-five years with the Tlusty Beverage Company. He co-owned Jerry and Reta’s Drive-In and Reinhardt Live Bait Shop from 1966 until 1975. He later was employed with the Chequamegon National Forest until his retirement. Jerry was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Medford and the Lehman-Clendenning American Legion Post 274 Rib Lake.

Whitey enjoyed hunting, trapping, fishing, watching baseball and shooting pool. But most of all, Jerry enjoyed spending time with his family.

He will be dearly missed by his wife; Reta, eight children; Donald Radtke of Rib Lake, Cheryl Semrau of Ft. Myers, Florida, Charles (Lisa) Radtke of Perkinstown, Kevin Radtke of Rib Lake, Anthony (Marion) Reinhardt of Chelsea, Carmen (Tom) Quednow of Ogema, Gerald Reinhardt Jr. of Rhinelander and Misty (Wyatt) Krug of Medford. Also surviving are twenty-five grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, two sisters; Irene Vlach of Waukesha, Wisconsin and Dorothy Koch of Wisconsin Rapids. Jerry is further survived by nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother; John Reinhardt and by two sisters; Marcie Durand and Marie Belanger.

The visitation for Jerry will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at St. John Lutheran Church located at 859 Fayette Avenue, Rib Lake from 1:00 p.m. until the 2:00 p.m. Memorial Service. Rev. James Krueger will be officiating.

Immediately following the Memorial Service, Military Honors will be conducted by the Lehman-Clendenning American Legion Post 274, Rib Lake and by two representatives from the United States Army.