Eugene Milton Reinhardt, age 90, of Sun City, Arizona died suddenly February 1, 2016 at Boswell Hospital from an apparent intestinal rupture.  He was surrounded by his loving family.
 
Gene was born in rural Russell County, Kansas to Milton and Rose Karst Reinhardt.  His sister Rose Lee Reinhardt Frazier Carter preceded him in death.  He attended Three Corners School and graduated from Russell High School in 1944.  Because of his father’s adventuring spirit, Gene began piloting airplanes at age 12 and became the Kansas State Junior Champion Trap Shooter at age 14.  In high school, he was an outstanding athlete lettering in track, football, basketball and baseball.  All his life he was passionate about team sports, bird hunting, fishing and golf.
 Even before high school graduation, Gene enlisted in the Army Air Corps.  He was proud to be part of an air-sea rescue unit stationed in Saipan.  After returning from WWII, he attended Kansas University.  He experienced the frustrations of farming in Logan County, western Kansas.  In 1947, he married Faye Uhland Hellener of Larned, Kansas.  This marriage was blessed with two daughters—Cynthia Bolinger, (husband Dave) of Warsaw, MO and Kim BaxaRumburg (husband Larry) of Ulysses, KS.
 
In the mid-1950’s, with the encouragement of Dick Shields, Eugene founded Reinhardt Services, an oil well service company.  He and his crews worked from four stations until his retirement in 1985.
 
Gene and Barbara Hufft Spacil of Ellinwood, Kansas were married in 1972.  This marriage brought into his life three children—Steven Spacil (wife Cathleen) of South Weber, UT; Michael Spacil of Auburn, Kansas and Melanie Weinhold Rehmert (husband Tony) of Dodge City, Kansas.
 
Gene was a Shrine member of the Salina, Kansas temple, member of the Elks Club and the VFW.  He and Barbara retired to Sun City, Arizona where they have enjoyed an active social life and where Gene continued golfing even into the last week of his life usually besting players much younger than himself.  Gene had a youthful zest for life.  He brought donuts to the girls at the pharmacy, challenged the men at the golf course, loved and encouraged his children, was steadfast in his friendships and was inspired by his beautiful and loving wife Barbara.  He is greatly missed.
 
Survivors include his wife Barbara of the home, his five children, grandchildren Ryan Bolinger of Roseville, MN; Clayton Bolinger of Shawnee, KS; Julie BaxaFawdington of Cyprus, TX; Matt Baxa of Canyon, TX; Savannah Spacil and Mandy Heath of South Weber, UT; Ross Spacil of Phoenix, AZ; Brian Spacil of Wichita, KS; and Rachael Weinhold Nunez of Phoenix, AZ and 15 great grandchildren.
 
A celebration of Eugene's life will be held at 2:30 P.M. on Saturday, June 4th at the Dole-Specter Conference Room at the Fossil Creek Inn in Russell, Kansas.  Military Rites will be performed by the Russell V.F.W. #6240.  A private interment in the Russell City Cemetery will take place before the celebration.  Memorials may be given to the Shriners Hospital for Children or Pitty Paws Bully Rescue of Phoenix and mailed to: Royal Oaks, 9915 Royal Oak Road #1062, Sun City, AZ 85351.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas is in charge of the memorial services.