REINSMOEN, Peter O. 1922-2005

REINSMOEN

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 4/13/2005 at 21:35:55

Peter Orland "Ole" Reinsmoen died of colon cancer at Comfort House Hospice, McAllen at his winter home in Alamo, TX, April 8, 2005. A memorial service will be conducted by Pastor Bill Peters, Bethany Lutheran Church, Joice at a later day with inurnment at Concordia Cemetery, Joice.

The son of Peter M. and Olga (Skrien) Reinsmoen, he was born March 13, 1922 at his parents' Joice, farm home where he lived his entire life. His education was in the Joice schools, graduating as class president from high school in 1940. From boyhood he participated in sports at every opportunity, lettering in baseball and basketball at Joice High School and continuing with town and church teams sometimes on the same teams as his sons.

He married Lois Tweed of Joice, daughter of Otis and Florence (Nelson) Tweed at Beaver Creek Lutheran Church, May 9, 1943. They were to celebrate their 62nd anniversary this spring. To this union six children, Mary, Mark, Robert, Jane, Laura, and Molly were born. He was partial to his church, his family, his hometown and the Great Outdoors, exploring the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota and Canada in his canoe over fifty times. The last time was in 2003 at age 81 with his wife and all five children. He enjoyed camping with family and friends and the summer vacation sat the same Minnesota resort in the same cottage for 18 years. An extended trip to Norway with Lois and over sixty of the Tweed/Tvedt clan in 1993 was a highlight of his life. "Ole" and two cousins were given nicknames in early childhood by his grandmother Kaia Reinsmoen from a comic strip in The Decorah Posten. His always stayed with him. He was a good pool player, cribbage player and bowler, an avid reader, especially history and was always a firm supporter of Indian causes and wildlife. Although not an ardent golfer he had two, "pure luck" he said, holes-in-one at the Rice Lake Course where he was a longtime member.

He was a faithful, loving son, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He bravely assumed the role of "Roommate" in his wife's newspaper columns and was an unflinching sport about it. Norwegian through and through he never missed a chance to say so. He was a homebody and loved his homestead which was designated a Century Farm in 1878. An honest and trustworthy gentleman in all his dealings, his way of life was to leave his "campsite" better than he found it.

Orland is survived by his wife, Lois, Joice, five children, Mary Reinsmoen, Madison, WI; Mark (Diane) Reinsmoen, Burnsville, MN; Robert (Mary) Reinsmoen, Chanhassen, MN; Jane Heilskov, Mason City; and Molly (Dave) Iverson, Joice; one sister, Carole (Allen) Freize, Hampton, IA; sixteen grandchildren, three step grandchildren, four great grandchildren, three step great grandchildren; two sister-in-law; four brother-in-law; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Peter Orland Reinsmoen was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Laura at age thirteen, two sisters, Mildred (Kermit) Anonson and Carma (Alton) Tenold, parents-in-law, three brothers-in-law, one sister-in-law, two sons-in-law, Paul Heilskov and Ron Almelien and one nephew. Blessed be his memory.

Source: Northwood Anchor Online, 4/13/2005.