Elmer G. Reinsch

January 24, 1925 - December 13, 2015

Memorial services for Elmer will be held on Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 10:00 AM at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shickley, NE with Father Tom Walsh officiating. A Rosary will be held on Friday, December 18, 2015 at 7:00 PM at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shickley. There will be no visitation, Elmer's wishes were to be cremated. Graveside services will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery with Military Honors. Memorials are suggested to: Shickley Veteran Memorial, St. Mary's Catholic Church, St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery or Nebraska Children's Home Society. Elmer G. Reinsch, age 90, of Shickley, NE passed away Sunday, December 13, 2015 at Fairview Manor in Fairmont. Elmer was born January 24, 1925 near Shickley, NE to John and Marie (Mayer) Reinsch. He was one of five children. Elmer grew up on a farm near Shickley, NE and was a 1942 Geneva High School graduate. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II from December 1944 to November 1946. Elmer returned to Nebraska and began farming, raising crops and livestock. On May 10, 1950, Elmer married Theresa Gergen at St. Mary’s Catholic Church near Turkey Creek. To this union, seven children were born, Beverly, Gerald, Daniel, Timothy, Mary, Monica and Russell. Elmer enjoyed attending sporting events, especially watching his children and grandchildren. He was often seen at basketball games all over the surrounding area. You could count on him being there early (often before the doors opened) to get a “good seat”. He and Theresa always had a large vegetable garden. Elmer enjoyed listening to polka music and playing cards. Rarely was there a discussion with his friends that didn’t include talking about crops and comparing rain totals. He loved spending time with family and friends and looked forward to family gatherings. Elmer was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, American Legion Post #164, and the Geneva Veterans of Foreign Wars. Elmer was proud of his service in the military and enjoyed the Heartland Honor Flight to Washington DC on July 8, 2008. On Friday, December 11, 2015 shortly after Elmer entered Fairview Manor in Fairmont, there was a brief ceremony in which he was given a pin and plaque recognizing him as a veteran. Elmer is survived by his children, daughter, Beverly (Lou) Kipper of Lincoln, NE; son, Gerald (Jill) Reinsch of Brainard, NE; son, Daniel Reinsch of Shickley, NE; son, Timothy Reinsch of Shickley, NE; daughter, Mary (Keith) McConnell of Lincoln, NE; and son, Russell Reinsch and special friend, Carmen Eimers of Shickley, NE. Surviving grandchildren are Cari (Kevin) Kaup, Omaha, NE; Megan (Mark) Gannon, Omaha, NE; Laura Reinsch, Denver, CO; Erica Reinsch, Brooklyn, NY; Jeffrey Reinsch, Seattle, WA; Travis (Aftan) Reinsch, Lincoln, NE; Chelsey (Nate) Lefever, Geneva, NE; Tyson Reinsch, Dallas, TX; Nick McConnell, Lincoln, NE; Jacey McConnell, Lincoln, NE; Matt (Megan) Yank, Lincoln, NE; Michael Reinsch, Lincoln, NE, Caressa Reinsch, Superior, NE; and Kellen Reinsch, Shickley, NE. Surviving great-grandchildren are William, Carson and Ethan Kaup; Cooper, Hudson, Lawson & Piper Lefever; and Hazel & Fox Reinsch. Other survivors are his sisters, Marjorie Hesse of Papillion, NE, Maybelle “Mike” and husband, John Maloney of Deerfield, IL; and Dorothy Jean “Dotty” Kress of Mundelein, IL; his sisters-in-law, Margaret Ann Reinsch of Lincoln, NE; Sister Marionita Gergen, O.S.F. of Milwaukee, WI; Florence Dondlinger of Fairmont, NE; Loretta Davis of Nebraska City, NE; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. Elmer was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Theresa; parents, John and Marie; daughter, Monica; granddaughter, Paris; brother, Robert; brothers-in-law, Henry Hesse and Virgil Kress; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Irvin & Rita Gergen, Father Charles L. Gergen, Dorothy & Darrel Steube, Robert Dondlinger, Jerome & Mollene Gergen, Clem & Ruthann Gergen, and Roger Davis.