Dennis G. Reinert

Dennis G. Reinert, 95, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 19, 2023, at Birch Hill Healthcare Center surrounded by his loving wife of 71 years, Bernice (Ashenbrenner) Reinert and his children, Denice (Reinert) Waldhuetter from Menomonee Falls and David Reinert from Portland, Oregon. Dennis was born on May 5, 1928, to the late George and Verna (Lotto) Reinert, in Shawano County.

Dennis grew up in Tilleda. He graduated from Bowler High School, where he was a popular young man that earned him the honor of being crowned prom king by his student body. Dennis was always an adventurous individual and lived a life of adventure and intrigue.

It all started when he and a good friend decided to hitchhike out west where he landed a job with the U.S. Forest Service in beautiful Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, where he was hired as head chef for a 65-man fire camp. Dennis returned to Wisconsin and married the love of his life, Bernice Ashenbrenner, on Sept. 29, 1951, where his love of Coeur d’ Alene found him bringing his new wife to dwell in the magnificent vistas. Dennis and Bernice moved to Green Bay where he went to Barber school and upon graduation worked at the El Franz as a barber for 10 years.

Dennis’s love of the outdoors led him to take an interest in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, where he had an extraordinary career in forestry. He worked in six different counties in Wisconsin, advising farmers across the state in field drainage and timber stand improvements.

Dennis was blessed with a beautiful voice and shared his talent by singing for numerous weddings, anniversaries and social events, while Bernice often accompanied him on the keyboard. Dennis also sang with the choir at Holy Martyrs of Gorcum in Green Bay and even cultivated his love of music as a member of the Baylander Barbershop Chorus and the renowned and internationally recognized traveling barbershop quartet, the Bay 90s.

Dennis was fond of his Holy Martyrs Parish and spent every summer preparing booyah for the annual parish picnic. Dennis and Bernice retired to Minocqua and lived on Booth Lake. While residing in Minocqua, he was actively involved with the Forest Riders Snowmobile Club and groomed trails for the enjoyment of the vacationers that flocked to the area of pristine prisms of powdery snow. He was an active member of the Minocqua Men’s Club where he thoroughly enjoyed telling his stories of adventure and intrigue.

Dennis and Bernice made their final home in Shawano to be near their family and friends.

Dennis leaves behind the love of his life, Bernice Reinert; his two adopted children, Denice Waldhuetter, of Menomonee Falls, and David Reinert, of Portland, Oregon; his former son-in-law, Dave Waldhuetter; his grandchildren, Dylan (Courtney), Daniel, Ryan, Brandon (Vanessa), Jenna (Andrew), Arielle and Charlie (Andrea); his great-grandchildren Kaydence Reinert, Taylor Reinert, Otto Reinert and Arlo Reinert, all of Portland, Oregon; his siblings, Vernon (Donna) Reinert, of Lino Lakes, Minnesota, and Georgiann “Cookie” (Gary) Vander Velden, of Crivitz.

He is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, George and Verna Reinert, and his siblings, Llewellyn “Lew” Reinert and Kay Mallory.

Those that knew Dennis would speak of his strong work ethic and a man who experienced a myriad of adventures and experiences that left stories that were told and enjoyed by all. Many that rivaled those of Tom Sawyer. We’ll forever go on telling those stories and reminiscing about a man who lived an amazing livelihood.

We will forever miss this man of many titles: husband, father, brother, granddaddy, great-granddaddy, uncle and friend. There is no doubt that heaven welcomed a true music man into the kingdom who was no doubt singing the Green Green Grass of Home as he met his Savior and God.

A memorial mass for Dennis will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 2, 2023, at St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church in Gresham, with the Rev. Tim Machila officiating. Visitation will begin on Friday at the church at 10 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will be at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery.

www.swedbergfuneralhome.com