Baker City, Oregon
R. Douglas Reinecke, 75, of Baker City, died Feb. 28, 2004, at his home after a lengthy illness.
A memorial Mass to honor Doug’s life will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, 2235 First St. Graveside inurnment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Friends are invited to join the family in the praying of the rosary at 7 p.m. Thursday at the cathedral. The Rev. Rob Irwin will officiate.
There will be a luncheon after the funeral in the Parish Hall.
Doug was born at Seneca, S.D., on Sept. 8, 1928, to Roy C. and Darlene Reinecke. His early years and grade schooling were spent around Seneca, Highmore and Leed, S.D. He graduated from high school at Wallace, Idaho.
Doug earned his bachelor’s degree in 1952 and his master’s degree in 1955 from Eastern Oregon College at La Grande. Doug also had completed 36 hours toward his doctorate in education.
Doug married Theresa Brown at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Baker City on Aug. 26, 1950. Together they raised five children: Sherri Eng, Daman Reinecke, Shawn Morse, Synthia Reinecke and Suzanne Schooler.
Doug served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was stationed at El Toro Marine Base in California.
He taught grade school and was principal at Wallowa. He also taught in La Grande at Central School and at La Grande Junior High School.
In 1959, Doug and his family moved to San Jose, Calif. While in California he worked for the Los Altos School District and the Moreland School District. He was vice principal of Rogers Junior High at San Jose and principal of many of the district’s grade schools. He was superintendent of summer school.
He wrote remedial math programs for Moreland School District and taught remedial math. He also was a junior high school athletic coach. The Reineckes lived at San Jose until Doug retired from education and administration in 1986. At that time they returned to Baker City.
He took early retirement from education, after 33 years in that line of work, to return to Baker City and spend time with his father, Roy Reinecke Sr. But because his father suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, that was impossible.
Doug enjoyed children, teaching, fishing, hunting, sports and being with his family and friends. He was a member of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, the California Teachers Association, Moreland Retired Teacher’s Association and the Baker Elks Lodge.
Survivors include his wife, Theresa; their children, Sherri Enz and her husband, Ron, of Granite Bay, Calif., Damon and his wife, Pat, of San Jose, Calif., Shawn Morse and her husband, Mike, of Aptos, Calif., Synthia Reinecke and Suzanne Schooler and her husband, David; and grandchildren, Ryan Douglas Enz, Eric and Katie Reinecke, Aimie Northrip and Joseph, Elizabeth and Robert Douglas Schooler.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Eva Reinecke.
The family suggests memorial contributions to St. Francis de Sales Cathedral or the American Heart Association through Gray’s West & Co., PO Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, March 5, 2004
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor