Harley Dale Reinoehl

BLAIR — Harley Dale Reinoehl, 70, Blair, died Sept. 25, 2018, at home in Elkhorn, of Lymphoma, surrounded by family. He was born Jan. 17, 1948, in Sioux City, Iowa. Visitation was Sept. 30 at Kremer Funeral Home. Memorial services for Harley and Pat will be Thursday, Oct. 4, from 5-7:30 p.m., at the United Methodist Church, Laurel. Funeral services are Oct. 5, at 10:30 a.m., at the church, with Rev. Isaac Chua officiating. Burial will be at the Laurel Cemetery with military rites by the Laurel Veterans Posts 4504 and 54. Wintz Funeral Home, Laurel, is in charge of arrangements. Harley was raised near Maiden’s Leap in Niobrara, the youngest of three children born to Gale and Eva (Kemnitz) Reinoehl. It was here he developed his love of cars when he remodeled a four-door sedan into a convertible to drive around the farm at the age of 10. He learned more about cars when he began working at Bubby Jones’ gas station in Niobrara at the age of 13. Following graduation from Niobrara Public High School, Harley joined the United States Navy. He served aboard the USS Holland for two years in Rota, Spain, where he was a pattern maker. He learned carpentry and engineering skills making wood patterns to be cast for maintenance of the ship. He returned to Niobrara in March 1971 where he began working for Ralph Simpson Electric. It was here he learned electricity while working on the Devil’s Nest resort. In June of that same year, Harley met Patsy Lea Burns. They were married Oct. 9, 1971, after a brief whirlwind romance that left them hand in hand, two weeks shy of 47 years. Harley and Patsy moved to Laurel in 1974, where they raised their family. He worked briefly as a hired man for his father-in-law until he was recruited to work for the City of Laurel in 1975. He retired as City Administrator in 2006 when they moved to Lakeland Estates, near Blair. Harley was a free spirit whose hobbies include hosting big family gatherings, playing and listening to music, classic car restoration, burning rubber, carpentry, landscaping, pond installation, masonry, home remodeling, furniture building and restoration, sign making, dog rearing, spending time with family and generally figuring out how things work by simply tinkering with them. His passion and willingness to share his knowledge was utilized by those close to him until the day he passed. ‘Did Harley say it was okay’ was the confirmation to move forward on any and all projects. He was the jack of all trades and master of most. Harley and Pat’s greatest life joys are hearing the laughter of family and friends in their home bursting with people, telling and hearing wild tales while building something special and creative; whether it was a Pontiac Firebird, an oak hutch or a lifetime of memories. Their generosity and love for each other is their legacy. Harley is survived by his beloved wife, Pat Reinoehl; daughter and son-in-law, Heidi and Jason Claussen, Wayne; son and daughter-in-law, Jeremy and Christy (Blakeney) Reinoehl, Elkhorn; son and daughter-in law, Jared and Sara (Jones) Reinoehl, Bennington; grandchildren, Theodore and Jay Harley Claussen, Wayne; Jaden, Ella and Addison Reinoehl, Bennington; Eva, Jackson and Blakeney Reinoehl, Elkhorn; siblings, Gary Reinoehl, and sister and brother-in-law, Glenna and Marvin Soucek, Verdigre; Jean Muller and Steve Burns, Omaha; Monte and Linda Burns, and Tom and Lori Burns, Laurel; Betty and Bob Rager, Emerson; Don and Lori Burns, Norfolk; Ken and Chris Burns, Phoenix, Ariz.; and Judy and Don Jorgensen, Randolph; and many, many nieces and nephews. Harley was preceded in death by his parents; his mother and father-in-law, Harold and Phyllis (Isom) Burns; his step mother-in-law, Darlene (Pigg) Burns; sister-in-law, Esther Reinoehl; brother-in-law, Daniel Pavlik; brother-in-law, Herman ‘Skip’ Muller III; niece, Nicole Burns; and nephew, Brandon Burns.