Obit: Reinart, Marian H. (1943 - 2018)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Reinart, Ager, Nicolai, Blondey, Schmidt, Jelinek, Schwab, Skoug, Rowan, Famiyeh

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI) 3/14/2018

Reinart, Marian H. (26 January 1943 – 10 March 2018)

On Saturday, March 10, 2018, God called Marilyn H. Reinart home. Hers was a life well lived – full of family, friends, adventures and fun. She was a dedicated wife to Roger, her husband of 55 years, a devoted mother to Ron, who was the light of her life, a doting grandmother to Reid and Connor and a great mother in law to Amy.

Marilyn was born on January 26, 1943 to Albert and Hildur (Ager) Nicolai in Eau Claire, WI. She has two brothers – Rick and Fred, whom she adored. She had many great stories of growing up on Pierce Street in Black River Falls, WI and her time spent on the back waters of Lake Arbutus and roller skating in Hatfield, WI. She went to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church School until 9th grade where she enjoyed playing the organ for church events. She attended Black River Falls High School from 9th grade to 12th grade, graduating in 1961. Marilyn was active in high school with the newspaper, yearbook and chorus. Marilyn always talked about the fun times she had while in high school.
Marilyn went to Wisconsin Teachers College in Eau Claire, WI for one semester. Always the one for a good love story, she fell in love with Roger Reinart, whom she met at the Hatfield roller rink a few years earlier and decided to move to Minneapolis after marrying him on July 28, 1962. Her parents thought she was crazy to leave her home area! They settled in Minneapolis for six years where she worked for a newspaper company. They then moved back to the Black River Falls area in 1968. She and Roger built a home in the Hatfield area and she became employed by the General Telephone Company in the business office which eventually became the GTE Phone Mart.

Marilyn’s dream always was to have a child. In 1971, she became a mother to Ron. He was the sun and the moon for her. Marilyn enjoyed motherhood to the fullest and Ron was a lucky boy. She fondly remembered about swimming in the backwaters with him, riding her bicycle with him into Hatfield, from their home, and enjoying every milestone as Ron grew up. She truly loved every single phase of his life.

Marilyn and Roger moved from Hatfield to ‘the farm’ out on County P in Squaw Creek where they raised veal calves and continued to both work full time. She was diagnosed with cancer during that time and went through aggressive treatment while continuing to work full-time and farming. She said that her relationships with her GTE besties, Diane Skoug and Janet Rowan, were a great part of her life. They enjoyed their times together – making sure that the general public had a working phone and always making time for, what they called, PMS cakes. They would celebrate with cake for any occasion.

Marilyn retired from her first career at GTE in 1993 and moved to Clayton WI. She worked as a human resources coordinator at Willowridge Nursing Home in Amery, WI. Always the one for change, she and Roger moved back to Black River Falls in 1998. She worked at the Black River Falls Chamber of Commerce and for American Family Insurance.

She began her second career in real estate with George Schwab/Uptown Realty and subsequently River Valley Coldwell Banker Realty. She loved working as a real estate agent – and always had so many amazing, funny and often crazy stories. Marilyn could have written a book! You could say she was part time a real estate agent and part time a social worker. She truly enjoyed her work and officially retired at age 75 in January 2018. She really thought of this as an early retirement!
Marilyn loved spending time with her husband Roger, her family and her friends. She took many trips with Roger including Hawaii, the Bahamas, Mexico, Alaska, and so many more. They also shared frequent trips with close friends Doug and Helen Jelinek.

She always looked forward to spending time with her grandsons Reid and Connor. They would go up north for the week each summer and winter to spend time with their grandparents, without their parents. They had fun times together fishing, playing games and traveling to Florida. Going to Disney World and Universal Studios with the boys created a lifetime of memories for the whole family.
Marilyn was a lover of many things. She loved going shopping and looked forward to Black Friday sales every year. She loved going to the casino and had ‘special’ machines and rituals. She loved spending time fishing, playing games, and being out and about. She also loved collecting things – Terry Redlin art, frog figurines, lighthouses, jewelry and fishing Santas. Saying she loved these things is no exaggeration.

Marilyn was very active in the community – including previously serving on the Black River Falls City Council with great pride, chairing the Christkindl events in Black River Falls, volunteering time at the church, advocating for the Boys and Girls Club, and being on the selection committee for the Alma Center Strawberry Festival Queen. She was always willing to help people out when needed.

Marilyn was never afraid to speak her mind. A common saying of hers was “Do you want my honest opinion?” She was kind, generous and fun. Truly one of a kind.

In addition to her husband, son, grandsons and daughter-in-law, she is survived by her brothers Rick (Sherene) and Fred (Barb); sisters in law Dorothy Blondey and Helen (Jim) Schmidt, brother in law Joe (Nancy) Reinart; many nieces and nephews, and so many more loving friends and family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, mother and father in law (Peter and Viola Reinart and brother in law (Frank Reinart).

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Guardian Angels Parish- St. Joes, 407 Main Street, Black River Falls. Father Emmanuel Famiyeh will officiate. She will be laid to rest at Hatfield Cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 13, 2018 from 4-7 p.m. at Torgerson Funeral Home, 408 N. Water Street, Black River Falls, and again Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until time of service at the church. Rosary will be said in her name at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday prior to visitation at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Guardian Angels/St. Joseph Catholic Church for the church window fund and the Boys and Girls Club of Black River Falls.

To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Marilyn H. Reinart, please visit our Tribute Store.