Mr. Bill Reinke

Willard Fred (Bill) Reinke, was born on September 24th, 1936 in Meeker County, near Cosmos, Minnesota. Bill passed away on September 30, 2026, at his home in the Gum Flat Community near Bells, Tennessee, He was ninety years old. 

Bill was confirmed at thirteen years old, and received his Christian upbringing in the Cosmos Lutheran Church. Bill later graduated from Litchfield High School in Litchfield, Minnesota, and later attended Arkansas State University, Memphis State, and Texas Tech University.

Bill proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958 as a military policeman at the previously named Fort Myer Virginia, where he was a member of the Army Pistol Team and Army Baseball team. He married Joyce Stephens of Crockett County, Tennessee on June 27th, 1958. He was employed By Nabisco and later by Motorola for most of his working career and received many sales awards. After retirement, Joyce and Bill moved to Crockett County where they became involved in plant hybridizing. They established Stephens Lane Garden where they developed and registered over two hundred plants with the American Hemerocallis Society. Bill’s wife, Joyce was fascinated with plant genetics, and Bill was a life-long salesman. Together, they made a great team. 

Bill was preceded in death by Joyce, his wife of 65 years, his parents - Alma and Walter Reinke, sisters - Esther and Laurena, his brother Raymond Reinke, and sister Doris Anna. He is survived by four children, his son, Jeff Reinke and wife Gaye Lynn, of Lawton, Oklahoma, his son Greg Reinke and Lee of Oxford, Mississippi, his daughter, Diana Bernard of Crockett County, and his daughter, Karen Manus of Nashville, Tennessee. His twelve grandchildren include Holly Frantz, Sunny Dedmon, Will Reinke, Lacy Smith, Bradley Bernard, Nicole Logsdon, Spencer Bernard, Ciarra Reinke-Ferguson, Brittany Reinke, and Mckayla Reinke-Kiddy, Ashley Glaser, and Michelle Manus. Bill is also survived by twenty-four great grandchildren.

Bill was an avid and skilled hunter, and an awarded champion archer.He also loved baseball, and one of his proud accomplishments was making the tryouts for the Baltimore Orioles Baseball Team. Bill was a master gardener, and he and his wife, Joyce, loved hybridizing daylilies and irises. Together they enjoyed attending plant shows and sharing their exquisite plants with others. He also raised homing pigeons, raced them and used them in funeral services in the Crockett County area for many years. Bill was also very active in several civic organizations, including president of the Oxford Jaycees, Oxford Archery Club, the Germantown Kiwani’s Club.andBill lived an active life finding many ways to help others. His final goal was to live to his 90th birthday -He made it with 6 days to spare.and was able to visit with his relatives and friends for one last time. His outlook was best described as wearing ‘rose colored glasses’. He was very positive and optimistic.

Visitation for Mr. Bill Reinke will be held on October 5, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Gadsden Community Church, where Bill was a member. Funeral services will follow at 12:00 p.m. at the church. Burial will take place immediately afterward at the Gadsden Community Church Cemetery.