Obituary for Martin Freidrich Reinke

Martin Freidrich Reinke, 87 of Debs Minnesota, beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 6, 2020.

Martin was born in Minneapolis, MN to Frederick and Alice (Carlson) Reinke on November 27, 1932 and that is where his story began - and oh what a story it was.   

He grew up with a close extended family where gatherings of grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins were common and included excellent food, ample drink, many laughs and healthy debates.  The tradition of gathering with family continues to be passed down through the generations along with the stories.

Martin served in the Navy, attended Augsburg College, the University of Minnesota where he was a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity, and Bemidji State College.  Some of the many jobs he held included working for Burlington Northern Railroad, the US Army’s Black Hills Ordinance Depot in Igloo, South Dakota, and the Core of Engineers at Fort Snelling.  He married Donna Mae Petersen 1956 and raised 4 children while living in Bemidji, Minneapolis, Igloo SD, and then on a farm near Solway, MN in 1962. Some of the jobs he held included working for Burlington Northern Railroad, the US Army’s Black Hills Ordinance in Igloo, SD and the Corps of Engineers at Fort Snelling. Martin worked at the Grand Forks Air Force Base and the U.S. Forestry Service before becoming a teacher for the Red Lake school district, in addition to being a farmer and rancher.     

Martin moved to a farm in Debs, MN in 1989, and married Diane Hitchings in 1991.  He continued to teach school at Red Lake until his retirement in 1997.  In retirement he lived a busy and active life that included substitute teaching, travel, continued learning and of course farming.  His mobility was impacted in the last few years due to Parkinsons but it did little to slow him down and definitely did not limit him from doing many of the things he enjoyed.  

Martin loved God and country, his family, German marches, folk music and John Wayne. He had a great sense of humor, was a philosopher, historian, mechanic, electrician, farmer and teacher.  He appreciated a good debate, was an avid hunter and in his younger years enjoyed flying.  He was pragmatic, enjoyed life and could fix anything.  He was Google long before it was created.

Martin is survived by his wife, Diane Reinke, his children Fred (Anita) Reinke, Lynette (Jeff) Jacobson, Heidee (Doug) Kennedy, Chris Reinke, step children Scott Hitchings, Karen Hitchings and Adrianne Hitchings, as well as 12 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, a sister Marion (Ernest) Lindner, many nephews and nieces.

A service to celebrate Martin’s life will be held on July 11, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 26685 Debs Rd NW, Pinewood, MN. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, this will be an outdoor service limited to family and close friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Movement Disorders Research Fund at the University of Minnesota Foundation, P.O. Box 860266, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455.

Condolences can be shared with the family on the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home web site.