Rinefort, Andrew Christian 1871-1953

RINEFORT, HALSTEAD

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/31/2013 at 11:41:24

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; June 1, 1953

A.C. RINEFORT
DIES THURSDAY

Longtime Resident Suc-
cumbs To a Heart Attack

Andrew Christian Rinefort, better known to his countless friends in the community as "Andy," died very suddenly of a heart attack Thursday morning at his home, 1303 Main street. He had been in failing health for some time and would have passed his 82nd birthday on Nov. 7. He was a lifelong resident of the Grinnell community and was widely known and highly esteemed.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Funeral services were held at the James funeral home Saturday afternoon in charge of Rev. Leland W. Mann, pastor of the Congregational church of which Mr. Rinefort was a member.

Pall bearers were Elmer Hillmann, Stanley D. Preston, Keith Halstead, George Schmidt, Thomas Godfrey and Truman Lynch. Interment services were held in Hazelwood cemetery today.

BORN ON FARM

Mr. Rinefort was born Nov. 7, 1871 on a farm 3-1/2 miles north of Grinnell, the eldest son of Christian and Lucinda Rinefort, pioneer residents of the area. He had three younger brothers, Frederick L., Lou and Harry, all deceased. His father died as a result of injuries received in the Grinnell cyclone in 1882 and his mother passed away some years later.

The family moved to Grinnell and built the home on north West street when Andy was about 10 years old. He continued to live there until 1915, when he purchased the home on Main street.

BUSINESS LIFE

He attended country school until he moved to town. After completing high school in Grinnell he took a business course before entering the general merchandise business.

For years he was a partner in the Rinefort Brothers store and then followed two ventures in the grocery business until 1922. Since that time he has been with the Walnut Grove Products company. He was one of their original fine salesmen and served the farmers of this community faithfully to the time of his death.

SURVIVORS

He is survived by two children, Mrs. Helen Halstead of Chicago and Foster C. Rinefort of Glen Ellyn, Ill., and three grandchildren, Suzanne Halstead, W. Dart Rinefort and Foster Rinefort Jr. Suzanne and Foster Jr. are presently students in Grinnell college.

Andy's greatest interests in life were young people and athletics. He was an inveterate baseball fan and also followed all local school athletics.

He was a member of the Knights of Pythias and Elks lodges.
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