Max Eldon Reinke, 78

Max Eldon Reinke, age 78, of Dale, Indiana, passed away at 5:20 p.m., CST, Sunday, January 5, 2014 at Professional Care of Dale nursing center in Dale.

He was born June 14, 1935 at home in Dale to Oscar and Lorene (Bockstahler) Reinke. He married Ila Jean Ellis on November 6, 1955 at the Santa Claus Methodist Church. Max was a lifetime farmer, a retired U.S. Postal Rural Letter Carrier, and owner of Reinke Farm Supply, Inc. and Reinke Farms. He was a lifetime member of the Santa Claus United Methodist Church; Dale Fall Fest Committee Chairman; North Spencer School Board member; charter member of the Dale Community Apartments Board; charter member of the Dale Jaycees; Lincoln Land Bancorp Director; Spencer Co. 4-H Council member; Spencer Co. Co-op Credit Union Director; and member of the Gentryville Masonic Lodge #424 F&AM. He was preceded in death by: his parents; and granddaughter, Danielle N. Reinke, who passed away in 2010.

Max is survived by: his wife, Ila Jean Reinke of Dale; three sons, Robert (Kellene) Reinke, Steve (fiancé Debbie) Reinke and Dan (Kathy) Reinke all of Dale; one daughter, Beth (Larry) Stephens of Carrollton, Georgia; one sister, Darlene Messer of Greenwood; by eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Max Eldon Reinke will be held at 10:00 a.m., CST (11:00 a.m., EST), on Thursday, January 9, 2014 at the Santa Claus United Methodist Church in Santa Claus with burial to follow at the Santa Claus United Methodist Church Cemetery. The Reverend Jill Kaetzel will officiate at the services.

Friends may call for visitation at the Santa Claus United Methodist Church in Santa Claus from 2:00-8:00 p.m., CST (3:00-9:00 p.m., EST), on Wednesday; and also one hour prior to the funeral service on Thursday morning. A Masonic memorial service will be held at 7:00 p.m., CST (8:00 p.m., EST), on Wednesday, at the church. Nass & Son Funeral Home in Huntingburg has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations go to the Santa Claus United Methodist Campground or the Danielle Reinke Memorial Scholarship Fund. Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared on-line at: www.nassandson.com