Phyllis Faye Reinhardt

Phyllis Faye Reinhardt, age 85 of the Town of Nelson, Buffalo County, Wis. passed away peacefully on Wednesday January 22, 2014 at the Plum City Care Center with her loving family at her side. Phyllis was born on October 12, 1928 in Alma, WI to George and Nora (Gross) Ruff. On August 15, 1946 Phyllis was united in marriage to Elroy M. Reinhardt at Zion Lutheran Church in Cream, Wis. To this union, 8 children were born. Elroy preceded Phyllis in death on January 27, 2002. Phyllis and her husband worked side by side on their farm where she would tend to her vegetable garden and fruit trees. Phyllis not only worked on the farm, she also held several other jobs, as many as three at one time. Most notably she worked at the Plainview Cannery, Nelson Café, and the Wabasha Hospital in the O.B. department. She assisted with the delivery of newborns after obtaining her nursing assistant certification. Phyllis was instrumental in the coordination and beginnings of the Happy Lads & Lassies 4-H club and later started the Rural Ramblers 4-H club. She was a dedicated member of the Grace Lutheran Ladies’ Aid in Nelson. She devoted her life to help guide children down the right path. She will be remembered for her enjoyment of dancing, gardening, and her “gift of gab.” Her husband Elroy once said, “There is no such thing as a stranger, just someone she hadn’t talked to yet.” Phyllis was a hardworking and dedicated mother. Even while working several jobs, helping on the farm, and being a dedicated community member, Phyllis was able to provide a loving home for her family. In her later years, it was her grandchildren that became the love of her life and she will be remembered as a devoted grandma. Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; husband Elroy; sister Marjorie Myren; brothers Junior and Merlyn Ruff, and her grandson Dustin Mitchell Binner. Phyllis will be sadly missed by her brother Lambert Ruff; five daughters, Nancy (Charles) Knez of Marshfield, WI, JoAnn (William) Steele of Maiden Rock, Sherry (Wayne) Boese of Nelson, Maxine Reinhardt (Jim Roder) of Chippewa Falls, Dawn (Mark) Binner of Eagan, MN; three sons, James (Lynn) of Nelson, Timothy ( Lorelei) of Alma and Kerry (Teri) of Beloit; twenty grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; one great, great-granddaughter, and by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Phyllis will be held on Saturday, January 25 at 11:00 AM at Grace Lutheran Church in Nelson, with Pastor Timothy Blauert officiating. A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday from 9:30 AM until the hour of the service. The family wishes memorials be directed to the Grace Lutheran Ladies Aide. Talbot Family Funeral Homes– Scenic Rivers Cremation Center assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.talbotfuneralhomes.com.