George Reinke

MIDDLETON-George F. Reinke, Dane County's first County executive, passed away on Tuesday, September 22, 2009. He was born on December 27, 1914, to Frederick H. And Louise E. (Vitense) Reinke in the town of Middleton. He attended the Cleveland and Draper Elementary schools, Madison Central and West High schools and the University of Wisconsin. On September 2, 1939 he married Mary J. Andersen of Walworth and celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this month. He was predeceased by his father in 1949, his mother in 1969 and by his three older sisters, Velva (Algernon) Sharer in 1985, Elizabeth (Robert) Waldorf in 1983 and Della (Arthur) Bullock in 1996. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Mary, a daughter Unison M. (Joel) Hubbard of Anchorage, Alaska, a granddaughter Joanna M. Hubbard of Anchorage and a son William G. Of Middleton. He is also survived by nieces Joyce Sharer of Decatur, IL., Betty Lou (Wallace) Pearson of Minneapolis, MN., and nephews, Sidney (Katharine) Waldorf of Madison and Donn George(Agnes) Sharer of Wausau.Starting his 41years of Dane County employment in the Highway Department offices in 1939 he went to the Court House and County Clerk's Office in 1940 as Assistant Bookkeeper, became County Bookkeeper in 1941, Chief Accountant in 1943, and was appointed by the Dane County Board both as County Clerk in 1965 and County Administrator in 1968. He was elected by the voters of Dane County to two consecutive four year terms in 1973 and 1977 as Dane County Executive. George never forgot and was truly thankful for the great support he received from his family, his friends, his staff, the Dane County Board of Supervisors and its Committees, County Department Heads, County Employees and the Dane County Voters all of whom helped to make his county employment efforts successful. He supported and signed the agreement to take over Madison\'s Municipal Airport in 1974 and worked with the County Board to set up the County's first landfill, new programs for senior citizens, battered women, day care for children and major programs involving the Developmental Disability and Community Mental Health Boards. Working with the County Board he helped to create the Departments of Administration and Public Works. He brought Dane County into the computer world by hiring the first "Systems Analyst" in 1969. He liked to travel with his family and visited all 50 states and 30 foreign countries. He made six trips to Alaska over the famous highway. He enjoyed taking pictures and was a member of the Madison Slide and Movie, and Bethel Camera Clubs. Other projects involved his family, his home, his cars and his garden. He was a former member of the Madison Jaycees, the Madison Lion\'s Club, and the Madison Accounting and Management Association. Currently he was a member of the Madison Downtown Optimist Club, the Bethel Christian Men\'s Association and the Middleton Area and Dane County Historical Societies. Since 1929, when George was confirmed he was a member of Luther Memorial Church until October 2003 when his family joined St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Middleton. Funeral services will be held at ST. LUKE'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 7337 Hubbard Ave., Middleton at 11:00 AM on Monday, September 28, 2009 with the Reverend Heather Lampert presiding. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison. Family and friends may call on Monday from 9:00 AM until the time of the service at the church. Cemetery: Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison Visitation: Family and friends may call on Monday from 9:00 AM until the time of the service at the church. Service: Funeral services will be held at ST. LUKE\'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 7337 Hubbard Ave., Middleton at 11:00 AM on Monday, September 28, 2009 with the Reverend Heather Lampert presiding.