MELVIN H. “MEL” REINHOLDT, 99, of Cherokee, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, March 30, 2025 at the Gardens Assisted Living surrounded by his family.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee, Iowa. Pastor Larry Ostercamp will officiate. Visitation with the family present will be held from 9:30 a.m. until service time at the church. Burial will be held in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Cherokee, Iowa. Military rites will be performed by the L.A. Wescott Post #2253 and the Cherokee American Legion. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to Cherokee Regional Hospice or The Gardens Assisted Living in Cherokee. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com.
Mel was born on March 7, 1926 at Remsen, Iowa to Henry and Kathryn (Lottman) Reinholdt. He went to school in Marcus and Sutherland. His parents moved to Fairbury, Nebraska when he was 16 and he started to work at a Chevrolet garage, which was the start of his lifetime work as a mechanic.
Mel was united in marriage to Norma Duntz on March 31, 1946 at Beatrice, Nebraska and they were blessed with 4 boys. He enlisted in the United States Army and was a Tech 5. Mel served for 10 months in Japan. When he returned, they moved to Cherokee, Iowa, where they spent the rest of his life. He worked for several car dealers and finally started his own repair shop that he owned and operated for 30 years. He retired in 1988. His last years were spent at the Gardens in Cherokee.
He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee, Iowa.
In his free time, he enjoyed spending time with his family, working on cars, and playing cards.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Kathryn Reinholdt, Norma’s parents, John and Fern Duntz, and one grandson, James Reinholdt.
Melvin will lovingly be remembered by his wife of 79 years, Norma Reinholdt of Cherokee, Iowa; four sons, David (Michelle) of LeMars, Iowa, Donald (Lynn) Reinholdt of Pocahontas, Iowa, Daniel (Beverly) Reinholdt of Cherokee, Iowa and Duane (Rhonda) Reinholdt of Cherokee, Iowa; 13 grandchildren Jason (Fallon) Reinholdt, Jodi (Jason) House, Jared Reinholdt, Rachel Ihde, Lee Reinholdt, Therese (Kevin) Clark, Rob (Ashley) Reinholdt, Joe (Hope) Reinholdt, Carl (Michelle) Reinholdt, Cheri(Matt) Fritz, Dana (Scott) Embrock, Chad Reinholdt, and Seth Reinholdt and 23 great grandchildren.
