Harley Dale Reinoehl

Harley Dale Reinoehl, 70, of Blair, NE died on September 25, 2018, at home in Elkhorn, NE of Lymphoma, surrounded by family. He was born January 17, 1948 in Sioux City, IA. Funeral Services for Harley will be on Friday, October 5, 2018 at 10:30 am at the United Methodist Church in Laurel, NE with the reverend Isaac Chua officiating. Burial will be at the Laurel Cemetery with military rites by the Laurel Veterans Posts 4504 and 54. Visitation will be on Thursday, at church, from 5:00 – 7:30 pm. Arrangements are under the direction of Wintz Funeral Home in Laurel. Harley was raised near Maiden’s Leap in Niobrara, NE; the youngest of 3 children born to Gale and Eva (Kemnitz) Reinoehl. It was here that he developed his love of cars when he remodeled a 4 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 of 1971 where he began working for Ralph Simpson Electric. It was here that 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 on October 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, NE. 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 of Wayne, NE; son and daughter-in-law Jeremy and Christy (Blakeney) Reinoehl of Elkhorn, NE; son and daughter-in law Jared and Sara (Jones) Reinoehl of Bennington, NE; grandchildren Theodore and Jay Harley Claussen of Wayne; Jaden, Ella and Addison Reinoehl of Bennington, NE; Eva, Jackson and Blakeney Reinoehl of Elkhorn, NE; siblings Gary Reinoehl and sister and brother-in-law Glenna and Marvin Soucek of Verdigre, NE; Jean Muller and Steve Burns of Omaha, Monte and Linda Burns, Tom and Lori Burns of Laurel, Betty and Bob Rager of Emerson, Don and Lori Burns of Norfolk, Ken and Chris Burns of Phoenix, AZ and Judy and Don Jorgensen of 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.