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Warren-McElwain Mortuary Lawrence Chapel

120 West 13th

Lawrence, Kansas

Richard Rinke Obituary

Memorial Mass for Richard "Dick" Rinke, 77, Lawrence will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 23, 2017 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church. He passed away Thursday, March 16, 2017 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Dick was born on October 4, 1939 in Altus, Arkansas the son of Henry C. and Rose (Eveld) Rinke. He married Patsy S. "Pat" Rinke on June 20, 1959 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Eudora, KS. She preceded him in death April 8, 2014.

Dick was an avid fisherman, and enjoyed numerous fishing trips with friends and family on the White River in Arkansas, and Lake Texoma in Texas. His love of nature included a passion for nature documentaries and growing vegetables in his garden. Dick belonged to the local Travelers Protection Agency, and was a past member of the Lawrence Jaycees, and particularly enjoyed conducting interviews and reading the news and weather reports during Jaycee Radio Day on KLWN. He could be counted on to provide his rain gauge total to the radio station every morning. He was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church.

He was an enthusiastic, passionate fan of the Kansas Jayhawks, and spent many years serving as an usher for both football games and basketball games. He was also an avid follower of both the Kansas City Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs.

His favorite activities always involved friends and family. He was a devoted father and grandfather when it came to attending his children's and grandchildren's sporting events, concerts, and graduations. He could always be counted on to be the loudest cheerleader in the crowd, and always volunteered to run the scoreboard at the ball diamonds. Dick loved played card games with his family and friends, and one could often discover that he and his beloved wife, Pat, had taken a spontaneous daytrip to the casinos.

In the early1970s, Dick began a long career as a local insurance agent, a job he held until his retirement. Prior to his career as an insurance agent he worked for KPL in Lawrence.

Survivors include two daughters, Kim Arndt and husband, Mark, Kristi Jorgensen and husband, Dane, both of Lawrence; one son, Mike Rinke and wife, Melanie, Bonner Springs, KS; six grandchildren, David Arndt (Liz), Eric (Caitlin), Ryan (Brittney), and Kaitlin Jorgensen, and Emily and Scott Rinke; four sisters, Rosemary Lamb (Don), Beatrice Seymour (Dick), Emily Dahlem, Bernice Simpson (Chuck); one brother, Bud Rinke; and sister-in-law, Agnes Rinke. He was preceded in death by his son, Lawrence Michael on June 5, 1962 and brother, Eugene Rinke. Dick was looking forward to becoming a great-grandfather for the first time with the arrival of a great-grandson due this June.

A parish rosary followed by a visitation will be held at the church at 10:00 a.m. one hour prior to the service on Thursday, March 23rd at the church.

The family suggests memorials in his name to Richard "Dick" Rinke Educational Fund for his grandchildren and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.

Online condolences may be posted to www.warrenmcelwain.com.

Published by Lawrence Journal-World on Mar. 19, 2017.
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2 Entries

Kristi I am so sorry for the loss of your Dad. You and the family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Melinda Wells (Ramskill)

March 22, 2017

MAY THE THOUGHT OF KNOWING THAT FAMILY AND FRIENDS SHARE IN YOUR GRIEF BRING YOUR FAMILY A MEASURE OF COMFORT.PLEASE READ PROV 17:17

KELLEY

March 19, 2017

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Warren-McElwain Mortuary Lawrence Chapel

120 West 13th, Lawrence, KS 66044

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