William N Reining "Bill"

CROSS PLAINS - William Norbert “Bill” Reining, age 80, passed away Wednesday, March 10, 2021, at UW Hospital in Madison, Wis. due to complications from underlying health conditions. Bill was born March 28, 1940, in Madison, to Norbert and Beatrice (Weisshappel) Reining. He met his wife, Lynn (Hansen) at a ballroom dance event in McFarland. They were married in 1992 and moved to Cross Plains. Bill distinguished himself at a young age in his chosen field of electrical engineering. While still a UW Madison student, he placed first place in the 1962 UW Engineering Exposition for his development of a Bug-eye Ultraviolet Photometer for use on the X-15 rocket plane. He also had the distinction of being recognized on the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Wall of Honor for this project. He received a BSEE (equivalent) in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from UW Madison, an Associate Degree in Integrated Circuit Design from Lusanne, Switzerland and was a certified Professional Engineer in the State of Wisconsin. He was a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) throughout his adult life. After working as an engineer for a couple different companies, Bill’s inventive and entrepreneurial spirit led him to start of his own company, Phoenix Engineering, in 1970. He went on to be founder and CEO for two more companies, Reining International and Intellectual Property, LLC. He was given the Arthur Young Entrepreneur Award in 1986 and the Wisconsin Innovation and Research Award in 1988. Bill retired in 2016 but continued to be an engineering consultant and inventor. Some of his patents included a Metal Proximity Detector, an Apparatus for Restricting Discharging of Fasteners from Tools, an Impedance Cardiograph Apparatus, a Solar Cell with Photon Collecting Means, and an Electrically Conducive Toy Block. Bill had many hobbies and interests throughout his life including gourmet cooking, travel, boating, classical music, ballroom dance, artistic painting, writing poetry and opera. He was always planning outings and trips for the benefit of the family. Lynn and Bill travelled frequently as a couple and with their two children Adam and Serena within the United States, Europe, Asia, Canada, and the Bahamas. Bill and Lynn were part of a couples’ gourmet cooking group and enjoyed hosting mystery dinners where everyone came dressed in costume and played a role to solve the murder. Bill’s Christian faith was central to his life and he used his talents and leadership skills to benefit Calvary Lutheran Church and Lutheran Church of the Living Christ, both in Madison, whenever possible. He served as a lay minister and chaired or served on building, building security, sound system, and arts committees over the years. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Norbert and Beatrice Reining. He is survived by his wife, Lynn Reining; his children, Adam (Bella) Reining and Serena Reining; his stepchildren (from a prior marriage), Stefanie (Todd) Hood, John McGrath and Michael (Sharon) McGrath; his sister, JoAnn(Norm) Hanson; his brothers, John (Gayle) Reining, Art (Becky) Reining and Richard Reining; and many other friends and relatives. A Celebration of Life will be held at LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE LIVING CHRIST (LCLC), 110 N. Gammon Road, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 5, 2021, with a brief interment ceremony following in the LCLC “Garden of All Saints” Columbarium. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the start of the service. Gifts in memory of Bill may be sent to Lutheran Church of the Living Christ, 110 N. Gammon Road, Madison, WI 53717. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson Cross Plains Funeral & Cremation Care 2421 Church Street (608) 798-3141