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Nearly 94, author-Deacon George Reinert dies
Deacon Reinert was the eldest deacon in the Denver Archdiocese
By Denver Catholic Register
The oldest deacon in the Denver Archdiocese, Deacon George Reinert, died Dec. 31. A deacon for 36 years, he was two days shy of his 94th birthday.
Deacon Reinert was born on Jan. 2, 1918, in Boulder, Colo. He attended Regis High School (now Regis Jesuit) and went on to graduate from Regis College (now Regis University) in 1939.
He enlisted in the Army in 1941 and worked as a quartermaster in Sitka, Alaska, to support the war efforts in the Pacific. While in Sitka he met his future bride, Helen Jordan. They were married on Aug. 21, 1944. In 1972 he moved his family to San Diego, Calif., where he began diaconate formation. He was ordained on May 17, 1975, in the Diocese of San Diego by Bishop Leo Thomas Maher.
After moving to Arizona, Deacon Reinert was incardinated into the Diocese of Phoenix in February 1980. He served most of his active ministry in the Phoenix area, where he was assigned to four different parishes. He also served as director of charity and development appeal for the Phoenix Diocese and helped with fundraising projects.
In 2000, Deacon Reinert moved to Denver after his wife died. He was granted faculties in the Denver Archdiocese and was assigned to minister at the Gardens of St. Elizabeth where he lived for the next 11 years.
In 2004, Deacon Reinert wrote an autobiographical book to his guardian angel titled, “Letters to John.”
The book includes an account of his ordination day.
“Reflecting on the life of Deacon Reinert, it became clear that he died doing what he loved because he loved ministering to the people of God,” said Deacon Joe Donohoe, director of deacon personnel for the Denver Archdiocese.
Deacon Reinert is survived by his five adult children and their spouses—Mary Jo Kostka, Helen Ann and Mike Peters, Marty and SuLien Reinert, Patricia and Fred Kimmel, and Celeste Reinert—13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A memorial Mass was celebrated at the Gardens of St. Elizabeth Jan. 7 and at Regis University chapel on Jan. 8. He will be buried with his wife and three generations of family at Green Mountain Cemetery in Boulder.
Memorial donations may be made to KNOM Catholic Radio Station, P.O. Box 988, Nome, Alaska, 99762.
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