Obituary for Charles H. "Chuck" Reinke
Charles H. “Chuck” Reinke, age 81 of Shawano, passed away Friday morning, September 16, 2022 at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Charles was born in Shawano on April 10, 1941, the son of the late Matthew and LaVerna (Herm) Reinke. He was baptized and confirmed at St. James Lutheran Church, and attended St. James Lutheran School. Charles then went to Shawano High School, graduating with the Class of 1959. On March 16, 1963, he was united in marriage to the former Sherry Thorson at United Methodist Church in Bonduel. The couple made their home in Shawano.
Charles honorably served his country in the U.S. Army during the building of the Berlin Wall in Germany. In 1969, he joined the Shawano Police Department where he worked for twenty-eight years before retiring in 1997. Charles is a member of St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano. He loved deer hunting with his son, Matthew, and grandson, Wyatt, and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also enjoyed camping, golfing, and playing softball. Charles was an avid bowler and was inducted into the Bowling Hall of Fame. Morning get-togethers with his buddies at Tom’s Tap or the American Legion were an almost daily routine.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 59 years, Sherry of Shawano; daughter, Tracy (Dave) Winter of Gresham, and their children, Amanda (special friend, Jason) Boivin, Ashley Olson, and Charles (Leanna) Cartwright; daughter, Tammy (Mike) Lewis of Clintonville, and their children, Mariah (Steve) Krachtt, and Joshua (fiancé Ashley Lyn) Naeyaert; son, Matthew (fiancé Lori) Reinke of Menasha, and children, Wyatt (special friend, Kira) Reinke, Makenzie (Dr. Brad) Hunter, and Cora Ann Reinke; and eighteen great-grandchildren. Charles is further survived by numerous relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his brother, William Reinke; sister-in-law, Karen Reinke; his in-laws, Trumen and Betty Thorson; and his sister-in-law, Judy Thorson.
A funeral service for Charles will be held at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano. Pastor Andrew Zabel will officiate. Military honors will be conducted by Shawano AmVets Post #10 at church following the service. Visitation will begin Tuesday, September 20, 2022, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Mickelson Funeral Service in Shawano. Visitation will continue at the church on Wednesday beginning at 12:30 pm and will continue until the time of service. Private inurnment will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials are preferred to the City of Shawano Police Department Honor Guard in Charles’ name.
“The family wishes to thank Unity Hospice for their compassion and care. Special thanks to our nurse, Butterfly Makayla, for everything she did.”
Charles was born in Shawano on April 10, 1941, the son of the late Matthew and LaVerna (Herm) Reinke. He was baptized and confirmed at St. James Lutheran Church, and attended St. James Lutheran School. Charles then went to Shawano High School, graduating with the Class of 1959. On March 16, 1963, he was united in marriage to the former Sherry Thorson at United Methodist Church in Bonduel. The couple made their home in Shawano.
Charles honorably served his country in the U.S. Army during the building of the Berlin Wall in Germany. In 1969, he joined the Shawano Police Department where he worked for twenty-eight years before retiring in 1997. Charles is a member of St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano. He loved deer hunting with his son, Matthew, and grandson, Wyatt, and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also enjoyed camping, golfing, and playing softball. Charles was an avid bowler and was inducted into the Bowling Hall of Fame. Morning get-togethers with his buddies at Tom’s Tap or the American Legion were an almost daily routine.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 59 years, Sherry of Shawano; daughter, Tracy (Dave) Winter of Gresham, and their children, Amanda (special friend, Jason) Boivin, Ashley Olson, and Charles (Leanna) Cartwright; daughter, Tammy (Mike) Lewis of Clintonville, and their children, Mariah (Steve) Krachtt, and Joshua (fiancé Ashley Lyn) Naeyaert; son, Matthew (fiancé Lori) Reinke of Menasha, and children, Wyatt (special friend, Kira) Reinke, Makenzie (Dr. Brad) Hunter, and Cora Ann Reinke; and eighteen great-grandchildren. Charles is further survived by numerous relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his brother, William Reinke; sister-in-law, Karen Reinke; his in-laws, Trumen and Betty Thorson; and his sister-in-law, Judy Thorson.
A funeral service for Charles will be held at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano. Pastor Andrew Zabel will officiate. Military honors will be conducted by Shawano AmVets Post #10 at church following the service. Visitation will begin Tuesday, September 20, 2022, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Mickelson Funeral Service in Shawano. Visitation will continue at the church on Wednesday beginning at 12:30 pm and will continue until the time of service. Private inurnment will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials are preferred to the City of Shawano Police Department Honor Guard in Charles’ name.
“The family wishes to thank Unity Hospice for their compassion and care. Special thanks to our nurse, Butterfly Makayla, for everything she did.”