Donald L. Reinke, age 98, of Bonduel, Wisconsin passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on April 2, 2024. He was born on his maternal grandfather’s farm in the town of Lebanon, Waupaca County to Edwin C. and Freda (Brown) Reinke. Donald married Joan C. Devine on October 23, 1954, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bear Creek with whom he shared over 60 happy years together.
Don lived in ten different homes while growing up in Sugar Bush, New London and Bear Creek. He was confirmed at grace Lutheran Church at Bear Creek, the church founded by his grandfather, Fred Reinke and built on the family farm. Don was the salutatorian of his Bear Creek High School om 1943. After graduation, he enlisted in the Enlisted Reserve Corp of the United States Army as a member of the ASTP-R (Army Specialized Training Program Reserves) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Don received an honorable discharge for health reasons later that year. After working several different jobs, he at age 21, attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1950. Don was a member of Phi Eta Sigma, an honorary scholastic fraternity and Alpha Kappa Delta an honorary Sociology scholastic fraternity. He received his master’s degree in education administration from UW-Madison in 1970, where he had the distinction of writing the only perfect objective phase of the master’s degree examination in the professor’s tenure.
Don taught high school English and history at Athens High School for three years before moving to Bonduel in 1953 where he taught history civics. He was also the librarian and guidance counselor for a few years before becoming the high school principal in 1960. He retired in 1987 receiving a citation from the Wisconsin State Department of Public Instruction for 37 years of service.
Don enjoyed traveling with his wife, visiting nearly every state in the United States and parts of Canada. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Don especially enjoyed hunting trips to Wyoming and annual fishing trips with his sons to Canada. He had a special gift for music, playing both the keyboard and guitar by ear much to the delight of family and friends.
Don is survived by four children, Donald “DJ” (Lana) Reinke and their sons, Derek (Stephanie) Reinke, Drew (Jessica) Reinke and Dan (Kally) Reinke; Kathy (Bill) Wirth and their sons, Nathan (Laura) Wirth, Matthew (Kristin) Wirth, Lucas (Becca) Wirth and David (Sara) Wirth; David (Jami) Reinke and his children, Jeremy Reinke, Jennifer (Mitch) Wallrich and Jake (Mindy) Reinke; and Kris (Dan) Maryniak and their sons, Alan Maryniak and James Maryniak. Don was also blessed with 22 great-grandchildren. He is further survived by many loved nieces and nephews.
Donald was preceded in death by his wife Joan; brothers and their spouses, John and Geraldine Reinke and Edwin and Joan Reinke; daughter-in-law, Kristine Reinke; as well as beloved siblings and in-laws of Joan.
A funeral service for Donald will be held at 11:00 am on Monday April 8, 2024, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bonduel, with Pastor Timothy Shoup officiating. Visitation will be held on Monday at the church from 9:00 am until time of service. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Swedberg
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