EL DORADO – John Decatur “J.D.” Reinhart, 89, died Tuesday, December 21at his home in El Dorado, Kansas. He died of complications from a covid infection.
J.D. was born November 20, 1932, the son of John Russell and Mary Ardath (Fitzwater) Reinhart. The family lived on a farm in rural Butler County. He attended school in Towanda, Kansas, graduating from Towanda High School in 1950.
The early‘50s were a formative period for J.D. He attended a year of community college, and owned and operated Reinhart Service in Towanda, which he later sold. It was during this time that he met and married Shirley Ann Kimbro, who had moved to Towanda from Commerce, Oklahoma. The couple were wed on November 1, 1952, and would later celebrate 53 years of marriage.
J.D. worked at the Towanda lumber yard, Vickers and Coastal refineries, and Beech Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas. Upon retirement he worked as a toll-taker on the Kansas Turnpike. Many remember him as the talkative toll-taker on the turnpike.
In addition to his regular employment, J.D. and Shirley operated both J.D.’s Carry-Out and the Wrangler Cafe in Towanda. The couple also sold antiques and collectibles out of the Benton Antique Mall. One of J.D.’s passions was turning bargains into bucks.
J.D. was active in the Towanda and El Dorado communities. He coached a youth baseball team in Towanda for many years. Bowling and bingo were two of his favorite pastimes. He competed in bowling leagues in El Dorado on as many as three nights of the week. Later, he kept a similar schedule with bingo.
J.D. was active in Elks Lodge #1407. He served as treasurer for the lodge, received the Elk of the Year award in 2020 and was a distinguished member of the Elks National Foundation.
He enlisted in the Kansas National Guard in 1953 and was discharged as a sergeant in 1956. One of his fondest memories was serving at the inauguration of Fred Hall as Kansas Governor in 1955.
He is survived by three sons: John (Beth) of Olathe, Kansas, Mickey (Shirley) of McPherson, Kansas, and Jerry Dean of El Dorado; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He is proceeded in death by his parents; his wife, Shirley; daughter, Cheryl Lynn; and a step-brother, Harold Burchard.
Friends may gather with the family at Carlson Colonial Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral services will be on Wednesday, December 29, at 2:30 p.m. at Carlson Colonial Funeral Home.
J.D. will be laid to rest at Walnut Valley Memorial Park in El Dorado with military honors. Memorials contributions in his name may be directed to Elks Lodge #1407 or to the Towanda Historical Museum.
Please sign his on-line guestbook and leave a memory at www.carlsonkirbymorris.com.
