Cornelia Cathryn Reinke
After a very full 97 years, and a lifetime of treasured memories with family and friends, Cornelia Cathryn Reinke passed away with her family by her side on Friday, August 19, 2016, in Oshkosh, Wis.
On October 4, 1918, Cornelia and her sister Cecelia Bartelt were the first set of twins born in Brokaw, Wis. Their family moved to Oshkosh when the twins were seven years old. Early in life, Cornelia cleaned houses, cared for the children of a local doctor and worked at Richmond’s Dry Cleaners. She married Chester Carl Reinke on November 1, 1947, at Zion Lutheran Church in Oshkosh, and began a family of her own.
Cornelia was so proud of her children and grandchildren. Her sons, Kenneth and Terence, who served their country in the Navy. Her youngest son, Keith, who served his community as a firefighter. And her grandchildren... Heidi, the first of the five. Doctor Jennifer with all of her many travels. Steven, her special grandson and Special Olympics champion with whom she spent many cherished moments. Christopher for his hard work and many accomplishments. And Bryan, who brought his own two precious children into the world. She always loved sitting around the kitchen table, while sharing her homemade peanut butter cookies, to hear about their lives and many adventures.
She was a faithful member of First English Lutheran Church, and was passionate about making oxtail soup for the First English Brotherhood and serving Easter breakfast at church for 26 years. She loved polka music, sewing, quilting, gardening, canning, cooking and baking.
Cornelia was preceded in death by her husband, Chester; son, Kenneth; twin sister, Cecelia (Bartelt) Kiesow; sister Elsie Bartelt and brother-in-law, Lawrence Kiesow.
She will be remembered and forever cherished by her sons Terence (Renee) Reinke and Keith (Sue) Reinke; daughter-in-law Ann Reinke (Arlyn Weber); grandchildren Heidi Reinke (Brian Ledwell), Christopher Reinke, Steven Reinke, Jennifer Reinke (Jonathan Johnson) and Bryan Reinke (Kimberly Schaele and daughter Isabella); great grandchildren Griffin and Alexis Reinke; her two great-grand twins on the way, whose souls she has touched despite not being able to meet them in this life; and numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends.
Family and friends are welcome to share their love and memories of Cornelia during a visitation at the Bethel Home Chapel, 225 North Eagle Street in Oshkosh on Monday, August 22, 2016, from 4 to 6 p.m., with a service to follow. She will be laid to rest at Lakeview Memorial Park alongside her beloved husband.
The family would like to thank all of the staff at Bethel Home One East wing for the great care Cornelia received during her stay.
In lieu of flowers, Cornelia requested that memorial gifts be made to the Oshkosh Animal Shelter to celebrate her love of animals.

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