Sylvia Ann Reinking, Smith Center
June 8, 1940 - November 7, 2023
Sylvia Ann Campbell Reinking was born on June 8, 1940, on a farm in rural Portis, Kansas. She passed away November 7, 2023, at her home. She was the fifth of seven children born to John Scott and Iva Marie Hendrickson Campbell.
Sylvia was educated in a one-room rural school in Osborne County and graduated from Osborne High School in 1958.
Sylvia was baptized as an infant and was a member of the Mayflower EUB Church.
In 1961 she was confirmed in the Lutheran faith at the Zion Lutheran Church in Downs, Kansas. She has been a member of the American Lutheran Church in Smith Center, Kansas since 1962. Sylvia had a very strong faith in God and her service to God was important to her. She served as a Sunday School and Bible school teacher when her children were young. Sylvia was very active in the women’s organization serving at the local and conference levels and served on the church council.
On December 6, 1959, she was united in marriage to Edward A. Reinking. To this union, two sons were born, Vernon Edward and Bradley Scott.
Ed and Sylvia moved to Smith Center in April of 1962 where they resided until her death. At the time of their marriage Ed and Sylvia lived on a farm north of Cawker City and moved to Smith Center a few years later.
Sylvia’s family was very precious and important to her. One of her favorite activities was to entertain her granddaughters Erin and Lacie and friends over for tea parties. She made porcelain dolls for the girls as they would dress up in old clothes, shoes, hats, and jewelry as they had tea with their dollies. With her grandsons Blaine and Grant, she would play baseball, football, basketball, and all the things little boys liked to do. Sylvia would stand in one place, put the football on the ground and call out “touchdown” which was to the delight of the little boys. When it snowed, she would take the children outside, go snow sledding and teach them the game of Fox and Geese. As the children grew, Ed and Sylvia followed many ball games in the summer and fall, sometimes traveling many miles to be a part of the lives of their grandchildren.
Sylvia was very active in serving her community. She was a member of the Garden Lore Club, Dollies at Home on the Range, Bible study, a charter member of the Red Hat Society and Prairie Treasure Quilt Guild. She volunteered many years with the American Cancer Society and Meals on Wheels.
She is proceeded in death by her parents John and Iva Campbell, two sisters, Shirley Hays and Irene Macy, two bothers, Wendell Campbell and Bill Campbell.
She is survived by her husband Ed of the home, sons Vernon and wife Bert of Smith Center, Bradley and wife Jenny of Spring Hill Kansas, grandchildren Erin Weinman and husband Jon of Phillipsburg, Kansas, Lacie Mostek and husband Brent of St. Paul, Nebraska, Blaine Reinking of Eldorado, Kansas and Grant Reinking and friend Grace Truelove of Kansas City, Kansas, and four great-grandchildren. Also survived by siblings Charlene Tuxhorn of Smith Center, Junior Campbell and wife Marge of Portis, Kansas.
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