Russell Eric Reininger

Russell "Rusty" Eric Reininger, age 63 of Seguin, passed through death into eternal life in the early morning of December 27, 2023 after a courageous 7 month battle with cancer.
Rusty was born on May 26, 1960 in Seguin, Texas to Marlene Martha (Felsing) and James Edward Reininger. Rusty grew up here in Seguin where he attended St. James Catholic School and later graduated from Seguin High School in 1978.
He loved telling stories of his childhood roaming the streets of Seguin on his bicycle with Jay Harkins, running wild with the Schreiwer boys in Geronimo, annual sausage and pannas making days, and of course the many family camp outs with all the cousins at Nana and Pampaw's river lot in New Braunfels. Family meant absolutely everything to Rusty. His freshman year at Seguin High School, he met his lifelong friend, Jaiy Braulick, who has since become as close as family.
After high school, Rusty followed in his Pampaw's and Uncle Buddy Felsing's footsteps and went to work at Geronimo Woodworks building custom cabinets. There he became an excellent carpenter and learned skills that have since brought joy and beauty to our entire family. After about 10 years in woodworking, he decided to go to college at Southwest Texas where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in construction technology in 1993.
In 1988, Rusty and Jennifer were introduced in the teller line at Seguin State Bank where Jennifer worked. Their first date was dinner followed by a night of dancing at the Midnight Rodeo. Rusty was an excellent country dancer and mom said they danced perfectly together from their very first dance. Rusty and Jennifer were married on January 11, 1992 at Faith Lutheran Church.
Rusty and Jennifer created a beautiful life together with the girls. In 2004, Rusty and Jennifer bought 8 acres with pine trees just outside of town. With his craftsmanship, he built a house full of custom woodwork for Jennifer and the girls. Rusty had a meticulous attention to detail and he hand selected each piece of trim. Rusty believed in working hard and making everyone around him feel valued and loved. This was a quality that made him a great fit at SpawGlass General Contractors where he worked as an estimator for the past 17 years.
Rusty enjoyed bowling 9 pin at Zorn Bowling Club, family camping trips with his brother Craig's family, listening to Americana music on 92.1 FM, trips down to the coast singing along to Pat Green with the girls, trips to the Frio River, making as he called "biiiiig breffasts" for the girls each morning before school, and country music dancing. Rusty was an excellent dancer and when they went dancing as a family, Jennifer, Claire, and Madelyn would fight over who got to dance with Rusty to their favorite songs.
Jennifer and the girls thank Kalei, Stacey, Janie, and Brittany, the kind nurses at GRMC who cared for and helped Rusty feel comfortable from the moment he arrived in the ICU on Christmas Day. They especially thank Hannah McCracken who Rusty called his "hero" because she guided and assisted Rusty and Jennifer as they navigated his cancer battle this year. Even on his last day, he continued to be incredibly moved by the support, prayers and acts of love shown to him.
Rusty is preceded in death by his father.
Survivors include his loving wife of 31 years, Jennifer Reininger; daughters, Claire Reininger and Madelyn Reininger; mother, Marlene Reininger; brother, Craig Reininger and wife Patricia; sister, Donna Holdgraf and husband Gary; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Diana and Ken Rippstein; brother-in-law, Jason Rippstein and wife Cara; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, other loving family members and many friends.
Visitation will begin on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 2 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Seguin, followed by funeral services at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Toby Burk officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be Taylor Holdgraf, Travis Rippstein, Mason Reininger, Kuy Rippstein, Tanner Felsing and Tait Reininger. A reception will follow at the Texas Agricultural Education and Heritage Center (Big Red Barn).
Private interment will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Christ Lutheran Church of Elm Creek, 3305 Church Road, Seguin, Texas, 78155 or to the Zorn Bowling Club, 12000 N. State Hwy. 123 Seguin, Texas, 78155.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Christ Lutheran Church of Elm Creek, 3305 Church Road, Seguin, Texas, 78155 or to the Zorn Bowling Club, 12000 N. State Hwy. 123 Seguin, Texas, 78155.