Gerald C. Reinke

Jul 6, 1918 - Nov 16, 1996

Gerald C. Reinke, 78, of Ridgedale Road, South Bend, died at 8:40 a.m. Nov. 16, at St. Joseph's Medical Center, after an 11-day hospital stay.

He is survived by five children, Dennis (Jenny) of Eckert, Colo., Gerry Lynn (Tom) Lytle, of Lexington, Ky., David C. of South Bend, Donn (Peggy) of Mishawaka, and Dean (Sue) of Winter Park, Fla. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was born to Carl J. and Margaret Reinke on July 6, 1918. They preceded him in death as did his siblings, twin brother, Harold Reinke, and sisters, Ruth Smeltz and Joan Matthews. On March 12, 1938, he married Mary Sobecki in South Bend. She died April 1, 1986.

Reinke graduated from Riley High School and attended. Illinois and Purdue universities. He had served as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. His love of athletics and children were seen over his lifetime. He had a great association and love for Notre Dame, beginning with officiating scrimmages and the Blue/Gold Games under coach Joe Kuharic.

He managed the chain crew for Notre Dame home football games for many years. He worked with the Cross Country/Track Teams at Notre Dame as a starter and official. He scouted high school sports teams after an injury left him unable to officiate. He had been a member of the Indiana Officials Association for over 40 years. He was a track event starter for the 1987 Summer Special Olympics at Notre Dame.

He had been a member of the Kiwanis International for 43 years and was a past president. In recent years, he had been chairman of the high school athletics awards committee. He was a South Bend councilman at large under the Lloyd Allen administration. He was a member of the South Bend Press Club, the Notre Dame Quarterback Club, and he had worked with Boy Scout Troop 124 and the YMCA. He was a member of American Turners since 1937.

Founded by his father, Carl Reinke and twin brother, Harold Reinke, Carl J. Reinke and Sons Construction was his place of employment since 1954, where he was executive vice president. He had served as a member of the Bricklayers Apprenticeship Committee and was a Pension Fund Trustee. He cherished his membership and friends at Grace United Methodist Church, where services will be held, Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 10 a.m.

Friends may call at the Forest G. Hay Funeral Home, 435 S. Ironwood, South Bend, on Tuesday from 3 to 8 p.m. Additionally, friends may call from 9 a.m. until services on Wednesday in Grace United Methodist Church.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Notre Dame Track/Cross Country Athletic Fund.

Article from 18 Nov 1996 The South Bend Tribune (South Bend, IN)

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com

03/10/2026 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/91696112/gerald_carl-reinke