Cover photo for Elizabeth Reinartz's Obituary
Elizabeth Reinartz Profile Photo
1929 Elizabeth 2020

Elizabeth Reinartz

June 12, 1929 — February 6, 2020

Elizabeth Ann Reinartz (Liz), 90, died on February 6, 2020, at Agrace Hospice care.  She grew up in Austin, Minnesota, in a family that included cousin’s, grandparents, railroad-widowed aunts, and her German-born great-grandfather as well as her mother and stepfather, Geraldine and Garth Hadley.  All of them plus the nuns, priests, classmates, and colleagues she encountered through life became vividly familiar to anyone who heard Liz tell her wonderful stories.  Generations of her family worked at Austin's Hormel plant as did Liz to earn funds for college.

Inspired by The Franciscan Sisters at The College of Saint Theresa, the Dominican priests, who taught theology there, and the local bishop's plea to “give back a year to Catholic education", Liz taught English at the Fransicans' Saint Mary's Academy in Milwaukee and joined the Thomist Society of theological study.  After far more than one year, she left to earn her Master’s Degree in English at UW- Madison.  This was followed by  many years of teaching – first at Central High until it closed, then to West High School.  There she met colleague, Paul Buckalew, who became her best friend, neighbor and care giver.

Also, while at West, she followed her grandmother's example of unionism at Hormel by becoming active MTI (Madison Teacher's Inc ).  She was once asked if she ever met anyone famous and she promptly replied “Reggie Regent" aka as Mike Koval.

At the Dominican Blessed Sacrament parish, Liz participated in every possible organization (except the choir) and served as elector, adviser to deacon interns, and on Brother Edward van Merrienboer's team of CCD 1.  “Auntie Liz" also entertained the kids by reading stories to them while their parents shopped at the annual Christmas Market.

In retirement Liz volunteered for MAREA (Madison Area Retired Educators Assn.), The Odyssey Project, and enjoyed international travel with The Friendship Force and The Red Hatter’s.

Liz is survived by the cousin’s she grew up with plus many friends and colleagues.  Deepest gratitude to Brother Edward, John McDermott, Georgia and Paula Benkart,  Maile Paalani, Agrace Hospice and especially Paul for their faithful care and friendship.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2121 Rowley Ave., Madison on Saturday, February 15, 2020.  A viewing will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. followed by the mass at 11:30.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Blessed Sacrament Parish at 2118 Hollister Ave., Madison, WI 53726 or to a charity of your choice.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elizabeth Reinartz, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Saturday, February 15, 2020

10:30 - 11:30 am (Central time)

Cress Funeral and Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Rd, Madison, WI 53705

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Mass of Christian Burial

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Starts at 11:30 am (Central time)

Rowley Ave

WI

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

Visits: 19

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree