Rev. James L. Reinard, 89, went to be with the Lord on November 25, 2014.
He was born October 1, 1925 in Eldred Twp. to John Franklin Reinard and Twila Elva Shaffer.
Jim lived in Sigel until the age of seven when his family moved to Heath Pump Station (Cross Station).
It was there that he met is best friend and soul mate Kathleen May McKendree, the girl next door. After the end of WW II, Jim and Kathleen wed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov 27, 1947. They would celebrate 67 years of marriage on Thanksgiving this year. Kathleen survives along with their children, Candice K. (Maxx) Hunter, James R. (Vicki) Reinard and Thomas E. (Barb) Reinard. Along with them are 6 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. His youngest brother Robert R. (wife Dolores) survives. Jim was preceded in death by his parents and seven brothers, Baby Boy (1913), John Kenneth, Gerald Franklin, Paul Richard, Dale Eugene, Baby Boy (1923), and Ralph Dean.
Following graduation from Sigel H.S. in 1943, Jim enlisted in the US Navy. He attended Officer Training School at Penn State and other training at the Great Lakes Naval Base and was later assigned the command of a Navy gunboat PGM15 in the Pacific. At the time of his honorable discharge in 1946, Jim had attained the rank of Lt. J.G.
Returning home after the war, Jim was employed by United Natural Gas Company in their engineering department. He went from there to Williams Brothers Construction Co as a job superintendent, building pipelines and pump/compression stations in the US and in South America. By 1955 Jim started his own construction company and operated it until 1971. It was then that his life changed. Jim attended Seminary in Washington, DC and became an Ordained Minister with the United Methodist Church. Rev. Jim served churches in the Coolspring area, Johnstown and in Van until his retirement in the late 1980’s. He continued to serve as needed in various churches throughout the area.
Jim and his wife Katie spent their fall and winters in Florida for over 25 years, returning to their home in Sigel every May.
Friends and Family will be received at McKinney Funeral Home, Brookville, PA., from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM on Friday Nov. 28 and Sat, Nov 29 fro 11 AM with services at 2PM on Nov 29. at the funeral home with the Rev. Henry Scoff officiating
Memorial made be made to the Salvation Army – 245 Main St. Ridgway, Pa. 15853
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