Obit: Reinstra, Dewey S. (1927 – 2009)

Contact: Dolores

Surnames: Reinstra, Kenyon, Hobson, LeMere, Kastner, Gehring, Mason, Irish, Hoefs, Jury

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI.) July 1, 2009

Reinstra, Dewey S. (4 November 1927 – 27 June 2009)

Reinstra, Dewey S. Reinstra, 81, former sheriff of Monroe County, died Saturday, June 27, 2009, in his home in the Town of Brockway, Jackson County, while under the care of Black River Memorial Hospice.

Dewey was born Nov. 4, 1927, in Sparta to Spencer D. and Lorenca (Kenyon) Reinstra.  He was raised in Monroe County and attended school in Sparta.  He resided in Sparta, Schofield, Hatfield and Black River Falls.

He married Eloise Hobson, and she preceded him in death.  He then married Shirley LeMere Kastner and she also preceded him in death.  He married Mary Gehring July 21, 1999 in Bronson, MO.

He began delivering telegrams and setting teletype for Western Union when he was 14 or 15 years old.  In 1951, he began working for Northern Engraving.  He attended technical school in La Crosse and then attended the State Patrol Academy.

He worked as traffic officer in 1956, and then he became chief deputy in 1958.  He was elected sheriff of Monroe County and served in that capacity for six years.

Dewey sold school bus contracts for sales and service to school districts for the Jelco Company and then later the Laidlaw Company.

Because no one else knew how to run the terminal, Dewey was promoted to vice president of operations.  He retired in 1993, having sold 17 contracts for 1,700 buses all over the state.

He didn’t like retirement so he began working as a substitute school bus driver for the Black River Falls School District.  He eventually became a full-time driver.  He retired for the second time in April of 2009.

Dewey served as a director of the school bus association in Schofield and Wausau.  He was a volunteer for the Jackson County Interfaith Caregivers, and he served on the Jackson County Board of Supervisors.  His committee assignments included the Health and Human Services Committee, the Law Enforcement Committee and the Highway Committee.  He was director of the Wisconsin Snowmobile Association of Jackson County.

Surviving are his wife Mary; two sons, Steve (Roxanne) Reinstra, Madison, and David (Barbara) Reinstra, Hatfield; his daughter, Dana (Bill) Mason, Holmen; two sisters, Bertha (David) Irish, Onalaska, and Anne (Don) Hoefs, La Crescent, MN; and one brother, Llewellyn (Judy) Reinstra, New Richmond.  He is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren and many other young lives he touched.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and two wives; Eloise and Shirley, and a brother, Robert.

Funeral services for Dewey S. Reinstra were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 30, 2009, at Torgerson’s Funeral Home (715-284-4321), Black River Falls.  Pastors Lon and Kathleen Jury officiated, and burial was in the Woodlawn Cemetery at Sparta. 

Relatives and friends called at Torgerson’s Funeral home Monday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of services.

The family prefers memorials be directed to either the Black River Memorial Hospice or to the Jackson County Interfaith Caregivers.

Perhaps you sent a not or a card or sat quietly in a chair.  Perhaps you sent a floral piece if so we saw it there.  Perhaps you spoke the kindest words as any friend could say.  Perhaps you were not there at all but you thought of us that day.  Whatever you did to console our hearts we thank you so much whatever the part.

The Family of Dewey Reinstra