July 22, 1929 – December 20, 2018
Merlin W. Reinking was born on July 22, 1929 in Corcoran, Minnesota to Christian and Elsie (Bernick) Reinking.
He was taken home by his Lord and Savior on Thursday, December 20th, 2018.
Merlin enlisted in the Army in 1946 and served with the 11th Airborne as a paratrooper.
After returning from the service, he married the love of his life Mavis (Hasty) in 1950. They were blessed with seven children over their 63 exceptional years of marriage, Ronald, Richard, Marne, Thomas, Jody, Mark and James.
Never afraid to take on new adventures, Merlin and Mavis bought an 80 acre hobby farm in 1960. While Merlin continued to work off the farm, they raised beef cattle and crops. Everyone pitched in and helped wherever they could.
In 1967, they sold the 80 acre farm and purchased a 160 acre dairy farm, enabling Merlin to farm fulltime.
They had never milked cows before, but with the help of good neighbors, his wife and children, they herded the dairy cattle down the road to their farm and began to learn, and soon exceled at dairy farming.
While dairy farming was very good to them, there was a complaint that they never had time to go fishing. In 1975, Roll-In Lodge on Mille Lacs Lake was purchased, and the family went fishing! With ten cabins, three launches, a restaurant, bar, campgrounds, and over 50 fish houses operating in the winter they were beyond busy! The resort prospered, became one of the premiere fishing resorts on Mille Lacs while they were operating Roll-In. At last with aging parents, and three of seven children still in the greater metro area, it was decided to sell the resort, and return to the dairy farm in 1978. Tom and Mary, Mark and Jim were all involved in the return to the dairy operation.
The dairy farm operated until 2000, when it was sold and Merlin and Mavis retired. They purchased a home in rural Rogers, and were able to spend quality time enjoyed their family, ever expanding with the number of grandchildren they were blessed with, some traveling and of course their friends.
Merlin was an outstanding person, a good Christian, husband and father. For the lessons he taught by his example and the values he imparted in his children we shall be forever grateful. Merlin will be greatly missed!
He was a faithful member of Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church for 59 years.
Survived by his children: Richard (Vicki) Reinking, Marne Kolasa, Tom (Mary) Reinking, Jody (Chris) Hoheisel, Mark (Linda) Reinking and James (Tracy) Reinking; 20 grandchildren; 35 great grandchildren; a sister: Carol Reardon; sisters-in-law: Gayle Bambenek and Donna Hasty; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.
Preceded in death by his loving wife Mavis, a son Ronald, parents Chris and Elsie Reinking, a brother Duane, parents-in-law Merrill and Pearl Hasty, in laws Marvel and Chauncey Sandgren, John Reardon and Bud Hasty and by a son-in-law Robert Kolasa.
Funeral services for Merlin Reinking will be held on Saturday, December 29th, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. at Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Greenfield. Pastor Paul Schuler will officiate.
Interment will follow at Salem Lutheran Cemetery.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, December 29th at the church from 9:00 A.M. until time of services at 11:00 A.M.
Casket Bearers will be Derek, Nathan, Scott, Dan, Mike, Matt and Mitch Reinking.
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com
Dear Jody and Tom
So sorry for your loss, I have many good memories of spending time at your family farm and at Roll-In Lodge on Mille Lacs Lake.
Sincerely Teri