Robert "Rip" Reinke
Robert P. “Rip” Reinke, 78, of rural New Albin passed away Monday, August 28, 2023 at Gundersen-Tweeten Care Center in Spring Grove, MN. Funeral services were held Friday, September 1 at St. John’s UCC (Wheatland Church). Pastor Michael McCann officiated and burial followed in the church cemetery.
Robert Paul “Rip” Reinke was born May 18, 1945 in La Crosse, WI at St. Anne’s Hospital to Henry and Irma (Kruse) Reinke. He was a tiny baby that fit in a shoebox and was kept warm behind the wood stove. It’s been a standing joke that his mother wanted to name him Romain - thank goodness his dad won that argument.
He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s United Church of Christ (UCC). He was a lifelong member of the church. When he started elementary school at Wheatland country school, he spoke very little English, as he grew up in a German-speaking household. He often said he didn’t know why he had to go to school since he was just going to farm. His sister, Neva, made him go anyway, and he went on to graduate from Waukon High School in 1963.
All he ever wanted to do was farm and often said that he did chores since he was five years old. They farmed with horses until they got their first tractor in the early 1960s. In 1968 he bought a logging skidder because he was tired of logging with horses. He enjoyed logging and running his skidder.
One time he even logged in Texas, while on a vacation with friends they had to remove a tree from the road. He finally retired the skidder to his nephew, John, in 2022.
Rip joined the Army National Guard in 1967 so that he could be home to run the farm for his parents. He met his wife, Sandi Evanson, on a blind date at Rainbow Gardens in the fall of 1968 and they were married July 25, 1970 at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church, Waterville. They took over the family farm where they grew corn, alfalfa, oats and beans. They also milked cows, and raised hogs, beef and chickens.
They welcomed their daughter, Stephanie, May 7, 1971, and she was the apple of her dad’s eye. Their son, Daniel, arrived May 6, 1975, and he was very proud to have a son. Stephanie brought home a city boy, Erik, who became his son-in-law. Erik occasionally tried to help him farm but that usually just ended up with lots of laughs at Erik’s expense.
Dan took over the farm in 2001 and Rip semi-retired (meaning he just didn’t live on the farm anymore). He often joked that his new boss was hard on him and wouldn’t give him any time off. He was an amazing, proud grandpa to five grandchildren. He loved to play with them and give them four-wheeler and tractor rides.
He got his nickname, Rip, from his uncle, Harry Kruse, after he crashed his car as a dare devil teenager. Harry said, “if you wouldn’t rip snort around so much that wouldn’t have happened,” and the name stuck with him the rest of his life. He never lost the dare devil as he aged, still climbing flag poles and trees and driving the skidder on steep hills.
He had many friends, loved his country and community, and was very involved with his church and the Lions Club. He always had a smile on his face and hands ready to help anyone in need. He loved to be around people and was always good for a joke or funny story to keep everyone laughing.
Deer camp was one of his favorite events of the year. It started when the young boys wanted to hunt, so the dads had to go with them. As he got older, he “let” the young guys walk the hills while he stayed back to keep the beer cold. When they came back, he helped cut up the meat and make his famous kupfvust.
June 29, 2023 he was diagnosed with Leukemia. He fought hard and was winning the battle for a little bit before he got pneumonia. The world got a little dimmer August 28 when he passed away at 3:30 a.m. with his wife by his side at the Tweeten Nursing Home in Spring Grove, MN.
He is survived by his wife, Sandi; his daughter, Stephanie (Erik) Piehl, of Carpentersville IL; his son, Dan, of New Albin; five grandchildren, Henry and Halle Piehl, and Brianna, Nathan and Addison Reinke; his sister, Neva Swenson of Chatfield, MN; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Phyllis and Bob Waters, Jim Evanson, Mary and Bill Bleckwhel, Steve and Sheryl Evanson, David Evanson, and Linda and Bob James; many nieces and nephews; and lots of great friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Irma Reinke; his brother and sister-in-law, Merlin and Esther Reinke; his brother-in-law, Art Swenson; his sisters-in-law, Vicki Evanson, Shirley Evanson and Nancy Evanson; and his father- and mother-in-law, Melbourne and Helen Evanson.
Online condolences may be offered at www.fredricksonfuneralhomes.com. Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Caledonia, MN assisted the family with arrangements.
