Mary Johanna Reinke

MIDDLETON - Mary Reinke, age 106, passed away at home in her sleep on Sunday, January 5, 2025. She was the daughter of William P. and Marie Flath Andersen. Mary was born in a Chicago Hospital that went into quarantine for the 1918 influenza pandemic the day after she and her mother left. They hadn’t caught it and survived, but their private nurse and many others who remained behind died. Mary grew up “on the farm” in Walworth County, Wis., where her chores included gathering eggs from the henhouse, picking potato bugs off the plants in the garden with her brother, and churning butter for the family from the raw milk that her father’s cows produced. She walked to a one-room country school. Later, she went into town for high school and finished first in her Walworth High School graduating class, which provided her with a tuition scholarship to the University of Wisconsin. When it was time to leave home, her father drove her to the train station and she went off to Madison on her own.

Mary graduated from the University in Home Economics, learned to sew beautifully, and for years made many of her own and, later, her daughter’s clothes. While she was still a student, she met George Reinke on a blind date arranged by a friend. They married in 1939 and had two children, Unison and William (“Bill”).  Like most women in the 1940s and 50s, Mary stayed home to raise her children, but after they were both in school, she went to work--first in the Dane County Treasurer’s office and then as the Court Clerk for Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jackson and, after his retirement, for Judge Torphy.

Mary contributed to her community, especially in her younger years, as a Girl Scout camp counselor, a Cub Scout den leader, and a League of Women Voters volunteer. Voting was important to her because, as she reminded us, she was born before women had the right to vote. As a result, all of her family members are supervoters. She was active in the Business and Professional Women’s Organization, serving as president of her local group and attending state and national conventions. For several years Mary and George hosted foreign students who attended the University. They especially enjoyed their students from Thailand, who called her “mom.” They kept in touch with them and later visited Thailand.

Mary was always ready to go somewhere--in recent years that meant driving around Wisconsin, especially in Dane County. She took her final drive in the countryside less than a week before she passed. Prior to that, Mary and George traveled to all 50 states, including six road trips to Alaska, and many countries, including China, Russia, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and more. They enjoyed meeting people and learning about new places. Even after George died in 2009 when she was in her 90s, she flew to Florida, Arizona and Alaska for family visits and vacations.

Mary was a life-long Lutheran as were both of her parents. Her Christian faith was strong and a great comfort to her. She firmly believed in the power of prayer. She and George were members of Luther Memorial Church in Madison for many years before they moved to Middleton and joined St. Luke’s.

Mary was an avid reader to the end, preferring biographies and cozy mysteries. She liked all kinds of puzzles-crossword, logic, Sudoku. There was always a partly finished puzzle nearby wherever she was sitting down. She loved to watch Green Bay Packers games.  

Mary Reinke lived through many changes in the world in her 106 years and saw much history being made. People enjoyed talking to her about her experiences, and she was always willing to share her observations and ideas about both past and present. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother. We will miss her.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Unison Hubbard and son-in-law, Joel Hubbard; her son, William G. Reinke; her granddaughter, Joanna Hubbard and her “honorary grandson” Rhett Paulson, Joanna’s husband. She is also survived by her niece, Debra Andersen.  Mary was predeceased by her parents; her husband, George F. Reinke; and her brother, George M. Andersen.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at ST. LUKE’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 7337 Hubbard Ave., Middleton, on Thursday, January 16, 2025.  The visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the service at 10:30 a.m.  Family and friends who wish to view the service via LIVESTREAM may visit Mary’s obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com at the time of the service and click on “Watch Now” in the webcast section. Burial will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dane County Humane Society, your local food bank, or your favorite charity. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761