James Reinagel

James P. "Jim" Reinagel, 78, of Saxony Village in Cape Girardeau, formerly of Kelso, Mo., was delivered into the hands of his heavenly family Tuesday, July 18, 2006.

Jim was born July 31, 1927, in Kelso, son of William and Regina Leible Reinagel. He and Sylvia Marie Essner were united in holy matrimony April 28, 1951, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in New Hamburg, Mo., by the Rev. Herbert Melies.

Jim was a graduate of St. Augustine Catholic Grade School, St. Mary's Catholic High School, Cape Girardeau Business College, and the Wisconsin School of Banking. He was recently honored with the 2006 Distinguished Graduate Award from St. Augustine School for his lifelong example of Christian leadership.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean Conflict.

He was employed with Farmers & Merchants Bank and Boatmen's Bank of Cape Girardeau. He retired Jan. 15, 1990, as senior vice president after serving 43 years in banking. He received the Presidential Citation Award from the American Bankers Association for his dedication to the banking industry on his 40th anniversary with the bank.

Jim was very active in his community. He served 24 years on the Kelso C-7 School Board, 14 years on the Saint Francis Medical Center Foundation Board, and 20 years on the American Cancer Society Board of Cape Girardeau. Jim was a charter member of the Breakfast Optimist Club of Cape Girardeau with 39 years of perfect attendance. He was a member of VFW Post 6407, Knights of Columbus Council 6420, and a 4th Degree member of Thomas A. Langen Council 568. Jim also served as mayor of Kelso in the early 1960s.

Jim was very active in the sports community as well. During the 1940s and 1950s, he was one of the premier fast-pitch softball pitchers in the area throwing five no-hitters and one perfect game. He was a charter member of the Kelso Park Board, which built the present park in 1949. He managed Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball during the 1960s and 1970s. His most memorable coaching years were 1969 and 1970 when his teams won 60 games and lost only one. On Dec. 3, 1994, Jim was inducted into the Southeast Missouri Baseball Hall of Fame.

Jim was a very avid golfer. On June 8, 2001, he recorded a hole in one at Kimbeland Golf Course in Jackson while playing with his wife, Sylvia, and friends Howard and Bonnie Kinder.

As a lifelong member of St. Augustine Parish, he served on the finance committee for over 50 years. He served three terms on the parish council and was also a eucharistic minister and lector during Mass. In addition, he served 14 years as a director on the finance committee of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese.

More importantly than all the above, Jim was a very loving husband, father, and friend. His attitude of optimism and spirit of compassion will live on in the many lives he has touched.

Jim is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sylvia; three daughters, Bonnie (Roger) Arnzen, Susan (Scott) Kelley, Jane (Wayne) Unterreiner, all of Cape Girardeau; three sons, Ron (Lori) Reinagel, Don (Cheryl) Reinagel, and Jeff (Renee) Reinagel, all of Kelso..

Jim has 13 grandchildren, Stephanie, Andy and Luke Arnzen, Paul, Sarah, and Rachael Unterreiner, Ashley, Adam, Nick, Matt, Erika, Courtney and Holly Reinagel; two stepgrandchildren, Sarah Geringer and Erin Woolf; and two great-stepgrandchildren, Drake and Ethan Geringer.

In addition, Jim is survived by a sister, Viola Gosche of Kelso.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Alvina Gosche; and three brothers, Linus, Henry and Leroy.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made in Jim's honor to St. Augustine Catholic School, Notre Dame High School, or Southeast Hospice.

Friends may call at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso today from 4 to 8 p.m. Parish prayers will be at 7 p.m., followed by Knights of Columbus prayer service at 7:15.

Funeral Mass will be concelebrated by the Rev. Oliver Clavin, Monsignor Raymond Orf, the Rev. James Seyer and the Rev. Normand Varone at the church at 10 a.m. Friday. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.