Herman Frederick Reinking

Herman (Fred) Reinking died July 12, 2023 at the Illinois Veterans' Home in Quincy Illinois. He was born April 14, 1930 in Fort Wayne Indiana to Rev. Herman J. and Emily Pulwitt Reinking. He was raised in Bull Rapids IN, Fort Wayne, and Crawford Nebraska, where he graduated high school. After serving 3 years as a radio operator in the US Army and in the Korean conflict in 1951 and 1952, he returned to his family then residing in Secor IL, where he met his future wife Betty Jean Otten. Fred and Betty married on May 1, 1955 at St Peters Lutheran Church in rural Benson IL. They lived in Marquette Heights IL for over 55 years, where they raised 3 children. After Betty died in 2013, Fred married Neva Jenkins Grotz at Liberty Village in Pekin on Dec 6, 2014. Neva died in 2016. Freds son Bruce also preceded him in death as did all of Freds 11 siblings. Fred is survived by 2 children: Mark (Donna) Reinking and Laura (Brian) Barton; 3 grandchildren: Dan (Kim) Reinking, Ryan (Sarah) Howard, and Nicole Reinking; and 7 great-grandchildren. Fred worked as a telegraph operator for the TP&W Railroad and train dispatcher at the Peoria Terminal Railroad. He then served as a rural mail carrier in Pekin IL until he retired from the USPS on Nov 30, 1990. He was a member of the Rural Letter Carriers Association and served in the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. Fred enjoyed farming the vegetable garden, taking the family on vacations, and seeing the beautiful sites around the United States and Europe, but he did not enjoy housework or the dishes. He asked to be cremated and interred in Swan Lakes Field of Honor Cemetery in Peoria IL next to Betty. Fred wanted his headstone to contain the words: "He took the scenic route". The visitation will be at Henderson Funeral Home & Crematory at 2131 Velde Dr in Pekin, IL on Friday, July 21, 2023 from 11:00 AM 1:00 PM. Burial of ashes and military honors will be at Swan Lake Cemetery in Peoria. Memorial contributions may be made to the Illinois Veterans Home, 1707 N. 12th St, Quincy, IL 62301. Visitation Friday, July 21, 2023 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Henderson Funeral Home & Crematory 2131 Velde Dr. Pekin,IL 61554