A dearly loved man of 88 years passed away on May 15th, 2020 at 9:24 a.m. in Peacehealth Riverbend Hospital ICU, Springfield, Oregon, due to post-surgical complications. He passed comfortably, with his hand held and, being Catholic, with his last rites administered by a priest of his faith. Everything he hoped for in his passing was precisely the way he wanted, and as he put it… “I’m eagerly on to the next adventure”!
Born, “Patrick Alexander Reinbold” to Franklin and Margaret Reinbold on February 22nd, 1932, in Spokane, Washington, Patrick was the youngest son of eight children. A son of immigrants, Patrick had a full and colorful life that was filled with adventure, laughter, and love. To some, he may seem impartial to matters of the heart, but only because he was uncommon in how that was expressed. He did not tell you he loved you… he showed you.
If you asked how life was going to Patrick, he would respond “Taking Forever”, or, “When you get to be 140, things don’t work like they used to” was another of his newly favored catch phrases. Truth is, he deeply resented getting old. In fact, if you asked how he felt specifically, he would respond that getting old is the worst. This, however, is coming from a man who would chop a cord of wood a day at 85 years of age. Patrick grew up in a remarkably close family, won and lost a thousand fortunes, put family first the “old-school way” and was truly one of the last of his kind.
Born a member of this “Silent Generation”, Patrick was slow to complain and quick to his wit. He adored his siblings, which was very evident in how he spent his free time during his younger years. He would recall his best friends growing up; how he played with his sisters; how he admired his brothers; how he admired his mother and father and how he felt about life back then. He would regale in tales of his grandparents and his family history with a gleam in his eye. He used to love to tell how he built his first car with his father in Arlington, Washington when he was only 12 years old, then had the local DMV issue him a license to drive when he was only 13. He loved that story!
When he became old enough, he knew that the draft was going to begin for the Korean War. Always planning ahead, he decided to enlist in the Air Force. “Better to make that decision than have it made for you”, he would say. He scored so high on his tests and proved himself so instantly upon arrival to his post that he was quickly in charge of his shop, fixing and preparing fighter planes for the Red Tail division. He never had a plane go down his entire tour of duty. Although he had the door wide-open to make a career of the Air Force, he had other things in his sights at the end of his enlistment… his wife-to-be.
He was already engaged to Nadine before his return to the mainland, having sent her a ring while he was still in Korea to set the deal in stone. They were wed shortly after he came home and was quick to build a family. He would often talk about the kind of America he knew in the 50’s, where a guy could have one job that would buy a home, pay for cars in cash, enjoy the freedoms fought and died for and take pride in his country and brood. He truly lived the American dream.
During his eclectic career journey, he was a brilliant mechanic with anything that took fuel; a successful restaurateur; a numismatics dealer; a treasure hunter of some true fame and a real estate genius, having purchased, fixed and sold many homes over the years. He did many things that interested him and to the latter of these things, he would often say “I never made a future with a job… it was flipping homes that bought my homes”. He loved that spirit and enjoyed that process up to his last days.
He had a vast network of friends from all walks of life. During the decades of the 1970’s – the early 2000’s, it was all too common to find somebody’s car in the driveway or shop. Always with the hood up and his coveralls on, he would sport a hat bearing the “Oregon Ducks” logo (not enough room to fully express his love of his Oregon Ducks). He was always helping others with their vehicles, never for payment but often for reciprocal favor. In fact, his sons enjoyed the constant “bowl” haircuts he received for free in exchange for mechanical services he rendered to the local barber and his best friend, Chuck. It is a stretch to say his sons enjoyed those cuts, but Patrick loved them… they were the right price!
You can still work your way through Cottage Grove and find many people whose eyes light-up at the mention of his name. Although most of his friends have now passed themselves, there are still many who know him or know of him from the many great accolades he garnered through his work in the community. He never preached about how to be a good man, just like his expressions of love, he showed you!
Beyond his love the Ducks and his mechanical dealings, there was another side to Patrick. Albeit a more esoteric side, he was more than a worthy source of deeply meaningful conversation. He had a great passion for ancient history, religion, the afterlife, earthly phenomenon, and all things less easily seen or perceived. He loved Edgar Cayce and metaphysical experiences, would call ghosts “woo-woos” and although he would often kid that the Oak Island Treasure was already taken, he would religiously sit every new episode to see if they would uncover the Arc of the Covenant. Like many great men before him, he asked the great questions in life and it was a source of excitement for him. It would be sacrilege to not mention this as it was an enormous part of his life that he would share (even his personal experiences) if you as well were so inclined. If not, he always had the Ducks and weather to share with you.
He loved his country, his family, his President, and his God. He was a sober man, a generous man, a brilliant man, and heaven is a better place with him in it.
Wife: Alva Nadine Reinbold
Children: Martin Brian Reinbold; Patrick William Reinbold; Susan Alberta Reinbold (Watson); David Alexander Reinbold
Siblings: George Reinbold; Bill Reinbold; Martin Reinbold; Fran Reinbold; Helen Reinbold; Marjorie Reinbold; Kathy Reinbold
Parents: Franklin Xavier Reinbold; Margaret Schloss (Reinbold)
Loading ...
