The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal News - Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

Dr. Robert (Bob) Arden Reinke passed away Monday, April 1, 2024, at Burgess Health Center in Onawa, with his wife and three daughters by his side. He was 84 years old.

A celebration of life service was held Saturday, April 6, at the Goslar Funeral Home Chapel in Onawa, led by Bob's grandchildren. Burial will be held at a later date with military honors. Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments assisted with the arrangements.

Bob was born to Glenn and Dorothea Reinke in Hartley on March 22, 1940. He was welcomed to the family by his older brother, Merlyn, and later welcomed a younger sister, Glenda. He graduated in 1958 from Hartley High School where he was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball, track and field) and a bit of a rebel (especially in his customized 1950 Mercury).

During his school years he met the love of his life, Judith (Judy) Ann Mundt, and they shared 79 years of their lives together. They became friends as 5-year-old kindergartners, fell in love as teenagers, and married at the age of 20 on Aug. 14, 1960 in Hartley. A highlight of their teen years was spending evenings jitterbugging at the Roof Garden in Arnolds Park. Watching them jitterbug in later years was always a highlight for their kids and grandkids.

After marriage, Bob and Judy moved to Iowa City where Bob attended dental school at the University of Iowa and Judy worked at the University of Iowa School of Business. Their two oldest daughters, Stacie Ann and Stephanie Rae, were born during their time in Iowa City. As a childhood Hawkeye fan, a walk-on for the Iowa football team and a University of Iowa graduate, Bob had no choice but to become an avid lifelong Hawkeye fan. Cheering on the Hawkeyes through all of their ups and downs has always been part of Reinke family life.

Upon graduation from dental school in 1966, Bob entered the United States Air Force and the young family was stationed at Nellis Air Force base in Las Vegas, Nev. There, lifelong friends were made including General Chuck Horner, who gave Bob the opportunity to fly with the USAF Thunderbirds, the experience of a lifetime.

Upon discharge from the USAF in 1968, Bob and Judy moved to Sioux City where Bob practiced dentistry for one year and where their youngest daughter, Suzanne Beth, was born. In 1969, Bob and Judy moved to Onawa where Bob opened the first dental practice in town and came to be known as "Doc". He practiced there until his retirement in 1985. Bob served his community as president of the West Monona School Board, as a member of the Onawa State Bank Board of Directors, and as a member of Shriners International where he rode in the White Horse Patrol.

Beyond the "facts," the most important thing to know about Bob is that he was a family man at heart. He most enjoyed simply spending time with his wife, kids and grandkids, as well as his close friends, and he was willing to go to the ends of the earth for all of them. His most treasured times with family and friends included Iowa football games, fondue and stocking stuffers at Christmas, fishing trips to Eagle Lake in Canada, skiing trips to Colorado (especially those last runs down Go Devil), "summer camp" weeks in Onawa with the grandkids (which always included a return to Bob and Judy's teenage stomping grounds in Okoboji), summer picnics and pig roasts at Stangel's cabin, golfing at the Onawa Country Club and at the Sands in Las Vegas, and so much more. His loved ones are blessed to have called him "Husband," "Dad" and "Papa," and are thankful for every moment they had with him.

Bob leaves behind his wife, Judy Reinke, of Onawa; daughter, Stacie Reinke, of Onawa; daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and Jim Teal, of Eden Prairie, Minn.; daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne and Dr. Michael Kevlyn, of Littleton, Colo.; grandchildren: Emma Teal, Graham Teal and his fiancée Marissa Hoepner, Grace Teal, Corrin Kevlyn and Ethan Kevlyn; sister and brother-in-law, Glenda and Kenny Kroger, of Hartley; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jill and Kenny Mundt, of Mountain View, Mo.; sister-in-law, Audrey Mayer, of Hartley; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Glenn and Dorothea Reinke, brother and sister-in-law, Merlyn and Donna Reinke; parents-in-law, Albert and Leona Mundt; brother-in-law, Lyle Mayer; and many dear friends.