Ronald Lester Reinke

Ronald L. Reinke, age 72, of Vernon Center, passed away peacefully at his home on June 6, 2025. Funeral services will be held at 10 AM on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Willow Creek. Visitation will be held from 4-7 PM at Zaharia Funeral Home in Truman on Tuesday, and one hour prior to the service at church. Burial will take place at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Chaska.

Ron was born on February 4, 1953, in Madelia to Alvin and Elna (Tonn) Reinke. He attended St. John’s Willow Creek grade school and the University of Minnesota Southern School of Agriculture in Waseca, graduating in 1971. On September 1, 1984, Ron married the love of his life, Mary Koschinske. Together, the couple was blessed with one daughter, Laura. Ron loved his daughter with his whole heart and called her Cupcakes.

Ron was a lifelong farmer. He farmed alongside his brother Leonard, Uncle Mervin, and later, nephew Rick. After retiring from farming, Ron helped Rick farm until his cancer wouldn’t let him. Ron was also a lifetime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church. He was baptized there on February 22, 1953, confirmed on March 19, 1967, and held many different leadership positions over his lifetime. Ron spent the last years of his life as Chairman, where his goal was promoting unity within the congregation. Ron was generous, kind, caring, and was known for putting others’ needs before his own. He has passed on a great legacy of faith to all who knew him.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Mary; daughter, Laura (Christian) Van Schyndel; grandsons, Alex and Micah Van Schyndel; brother, Leonard (Barb) Reinke; nieces and nephews, Bridget (Marty) Thiel, Tanya (Rob) Stern, Rick (Mary) Reinke and Erica (Ben) Wieting; and many great nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Elna Reinke, sister, Arlene Reinke, and his parents-in-law, Charles and Jeanette Koschinske.