Milton Jean Frederick Reinert
03/13/27 – 03/12/25

There's one heck of a joyful noise going on these days, now that Milt Reinert has joined his wife, brothers and sister for a reunion tour.

From his earliest years at 4256 West Florissant Avenue (across from O'Fallon Park) to his last decade at Friendship Village in Chesterfield, music coursed through Milt's veins. He and his brothers, especially, made instrumental and vocal magic together at home, at school, in the car, on vacations out West, with friends … wherever and whenever the opportunity arose. They even made original 78 rpm recordings with Christmas and New Year's greetings for some extra lucky recipients.

Too numerous to list, his musical accomplishments included the violin (school and Alton Symphony Orchestras), upright bass (at get-togethers, entertaining at the Veteran's Home, at post-tennis jam sessions and in Friendship Village's Latin 101 combo), Immanuel UCC choir member and junior choir director, and countless impromptu harmonizations in his clear tenor.

A serious work ethic, pursuit of perfection and insatiable curiosity served him well as valedictorian of his Beaumont High School class, Washington University graduate and electrical engineer – first at Emerson Electric, then Med Science, then McDonnell Douglas, from which he retired at age 60. Thankfully, Milt's curiosity never retired. Well into his 90s, he was still exploring the finer points of virtually any story, musical activity or home improvement project.

Milt could fix just about anything! Perhaps it was his early training keeping 20 washing machines running at his Pop's launderette and fixing rental tenants' housing issues that made him such a handyman (something his wife, Marilyn, occasionally rued when she wanted a new household appliance ;-)).

But she never regretted his prowess on the tennis court, where they formed a mean team well up into their senior years. And co-hosted adventures ranging from the Tent City Tennis Classic to ice skating parties, where Milt flooded part of the homemade, home-lit home tennis court.

On and off the court, his skills were extraordinary – and often unexpected. Once he surprised party guests by wiring the (loud) horn from the family car to the doorbell at 400 Uthe. For years he made beautiful Christmas presents for friends and family. Stained glass lawn treasures, clear beveled glass pinwheel sculptures, "infinity lights," life-sized wooden Christmas reindeer … the gift list goes on.

And when his generation "ruled" Black River Lodge, the creativity truly flowed. Elaborate floating parades; royal (and international commoner!) wedding celebrations; an SOB headstone, rickshaw and fountain; perfectly engineered shade-and-bench setups; live concerts; patriotic 10SNE1t-shirts and tournament under a red-white-and-blue bikini "flag." They knew how to have fun – without devices.

Like his favorite M&M treats, Milt grew sweeter through the years. And he bore the increasing challenges of old age with remarkable grace, gratitude and good humor.

We miss him dearly. We still learn from him. We will always carry him in our hearts.

Milt is survived by his daughter Julia Reinert (and Dennis) Collins of Bloomington, Ind.; his daughter Janet Reinert (and Jeppe) Sturis of Vaerloese, Denmark; and scads of treasured grandchildren, great-grandchildren, other family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Marilyn Jane Reinert (nee Uthe) on February 14, 2024.

If you want to honor Milt's memory, just play your favorite music. Or, if it calls to you, consider donating to the Alton Symphony Orchestra ( https://www.altonsymphonyorchestra.org/donate or P.O. Box 1205, Alton, IL, 62002).

Private services will be held with interment at Memorial Park Cemetery, 5200 Lucas and Hunt Road, St. Louis, MO 63121.

Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home   www.osfuneralhomes.com