John Reiner

John R. Reiner, 76, of Edwardsville, Illinois died on June 13, 2014. He was born in Humphrey, Nebraska in 1938. His wife, Julie Scott Reiner, whom he married on June 13, 1964, lives in Edwardsville, Illinois. Mr. Reiner died just after midnight on their 50th wedding anniversary. His son, David J. Reiner (born in 1966) and daughter-in-law, Catherine Maris, who were married in 1998, live in Houston, Texas. These dates constitute the defining events of his life.
Mr. Reiner's immediate family was central to his growth as a human being. He was the eldest of six children. His father, John B. Reiner died in 1975 and his mother, Marie L. Dvorak Reiner, died in 1968. One brother, Paul M. Reiner, died in 1955. He has two brothers and two sisters. Donald E. (wife, Mary Reiner, deceased), lives in Omaha, Nebraska. M. Jean Reiner also lives in Omaha. Carole A. Baumgart lives in Columbus, Nebraska. Thomas M. Reiner and his wife, Sharon, live in Shepherd, Montana. A brother-in-law, Glen Morgan (wife Sally Anne, deceased), lives in Fremont, Nebraska. He has three nephews, five nieces, six grand nephews and five grand nieces. He has one cousin living in Nebraska and several cousins living in Germany.
He also had the great good fortune of many loving, loyal, generous and forgiving friends, colleagues and teachers throughout his life.
Mr. Reiner graduated from St. Francis High School, Humphrey, Nebraska and then served two years in the U.S. Army. He earned an AA Degree from Northeast Community College (Norfolk, Nebraska), a BAE degree with honors from Wayne State College (Wayne, Nebraska). He earned an MA degree from the University of Wyoming (Laramie), 1964 and a PhD degree from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, 1969. He was a member of honorary fraternities in mathematics and physical science while a student at Wayne State College.
He taught Junior High School mathematics and science at Neligh, Nebraska and served as Registrar and Education Counselor at Monticello College, Godfrey, Illinois. He began his career at Southern Illinois University as Assistant Director of Institutional Research and Assistant Professor of Education in 1969. He then held several positions at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville: Director of Institutional Research and Studies, Director of Planning and Resource Management, Assistant Vice President for Information Systems and Planning and Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research and Studies. He retired from the University in 1993 and was an Associate Professor Emeritus at his death.
After retirement, Mr. Reiner was involved in a number of volunteer activities. He tutored mathematics for students seeking GED certificates and participated as a member of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Friends of Lovejoy Library, volunteering mainly in activities supporting the Library's used book store. He was a Master Gardener at the Missouri Botanical Garden. His major volunteer efforts there were in support of the Kemper Center for Home Gardening.
Mr. Reiner's remains were donated to the Washington University Medical School. No formal funeral arrangements are planned. A memorial service will be held in Edwardsville, Illinois at a later date. Donations may be made to the CFIDS Association of America/ Solve ME-CFS Initiative (PO Box 220398, Charlotte, NC 28222-0398 or solvecfs.org) or to the Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Foundation (8330 Ward Parkway, Ste. 510, Kansas City, Mo 64114 or pkdcure.org). A memorial website to share memories can be found at: http://johnreiner.muchloved.com. Details about the memorial will also be posted on this site.