Martin Friedrich Reinke

Martin Friedrich Reinke

November 27, 1932 ~ March 6, 2020 (age 87)

Martin Friedrich Reinke, 87, of Debs, Minnesota, beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 6, 2020.

A service to celebrate Martin's life will be held on July 11, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 26685 Debs Road NW, Pinewood, MN. Visitation 1 hour prior to the service. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, this will be an outdoor service limited to family and close friends.

Martin was born in Minneapolis, MN to Frederick and Alice (Carlson) Reinke on November 27, 1932 and that is where his story began - and oh what a story it was. He grew up with a close extended family where gatherings of grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins were common and included excellent food, ample drink, many laughs and healthy debates. The tradition of gathering with family continues to be passed down through the generations along with the stories.

Martin served in the Navy during the Korean War, attended Augsburg College, the University of Minnesota where he was a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity and Bemidji State University. He married Donna Mae Petersen in 1956, and raised 4 children while living in Bemidji, Minneapolis, Igloo SD, again in Minneapolis, then on a farm near Solway in 1962. Some of the jobs he held included working for Burlington Northern Railroad, the US Army's Black Hills Ordinance in Igloo, SD, and the Corps of Engineers at Fort Snelling. Martin worked at the Grand Forks Air Force Base and the U.S. Forestry Service before becoming a teacher for the Red Lake School District, in addition to being a farmer and rancher.

Martin moved to a farm in Debs, MN in 1989 and married Diane Hitchings in 1991. He continued to teach school in Red Lake until his retirement in 1997. In retirement, he lived a busy and active life that included substitute teaching, continued learning, travel, and of course farming. His mobility was impacted in the last few years due to Parkinson's but it did little to slow him down and definitely did not limit him from doing many of the things he enjoyed.

Martin loved God and country, his family, German marches, folk music and John Wayne. He had a great sense of humor, was a philosopher, historian, mechanic, electrician, farmer and teacher. He appreciated a good debate, was an avid hunter, and in his younger years, enjoyed flying. He was pragmatic, enjoyed life and could fix anything. He was Google long before it was created. He was a true Renaissance Man.

Martin is survived by his wife, Diane Reinke, his children Fred (Anita) Reinke, Lynette (Jeff) Jacobson, Heidee (Doug) Kennedy, Chris Reinke, and step children Scott (Charla Eby) Hitchings, Karen Hitchings, and Adriane Hitchings, as well as 12 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, a sister Marion (Ernest) Lindner, and many nephews and nieces.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Movement Disorders Research Fund at the University of Minnesota Foundation, P.O. Box 860266, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455.

Services

Visitation

Saturday

July 11, 2020

1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Trinity Lutheran Church -Debs

26685 Debs Road NW

Pinewood, MN 56676

Celebration of Life

Saturday

July 11, 2020

2:00 PM

Trinity Lutheran Church -Debs

26685 Debs Road NW

Pinewood, MN 56676