AUBURN — Lawrence E. Rinck, 97, passed away Friday, Sept. 14, surrounded by his loved ones.
He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 3, 1921, the eldest son of William and Gayla (Kraus) Rinck. Larry grew up in Cincinnati through the Great Depression, graduating from Elder High School and Xavier University, where he was editor of the school newspaper. At Xavier, he and some friends became dejected by the cheering squad enthusiasm during a dismal Xavier football season and Larry formed a new cheerleading squad, pushing the team to a one-win season.
Larry enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and served as a private in the European Theater in World War II in an anti-aircraft unit. He joked that he landed on Normandy Beach on D-Day (adding much softer “plus-60” meaning 60 days after the invasion). He served fairly far behind the frontlines but said that if the Battle of the Bulge had been successful, his unit would have been in a bad place. His unit entered Germany and, as a testament to his character, in one village after his unit kicked a German family out of their home to create a headquarters, he and the family continued to correspond each Christmas for nearly 40 years. After the war, he stuck around and went to Bristol University to take a few classes.
He returned home and set his eyes on Rosemary Helen Krummen, who would become his wife of over 50 years until her death in 2005. Together they raised one son, Peter D. Rinck, of Buckfield.
Larry had a long career in marketing, first with the Bavarian Beer Co., then with the Gruen Watch Co. In 1963, Rosemary, Larry and their son, Peter, moved to Allendale, N.J., where Larry had taken a job with S&H Green Stamps, eventually becoming the vice president of marketing. Larry was one of the “Mad Men” made famous by the television series, and counted some of the advertising legends of the 1960s as his peers. He gave the author Mary Higgins Clark a project for the company and they became lifelong friends.
In the early 1980s, Larry and Rosemary moved to Minnesota where Larry served as liaison between S&H Green Stamps and the National Car Rental Co. Larry and Rosemary later returned to Cincinnati to care for Larry’s parents. In Cincinnati, Larry lent his knowledge to many companies by volunteering for SCORE.
Larry loved tennis, golf (scoring a hole-in-one in his 80s) and singing of all kinds, whenever and wherever the mood hit him, much to the mortification of his son over the years.
His beloved wife, Rosemary, passed away in 2005 after a long illness. Larry continued to participate in the choir at Good Shepard Church in Cincinnati and met his close friend and companion, Joan Neal. The two shared many adventures traveling, participating in the church and providing for each other.
In 2017, Larry moved to Maine to be closer to his son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was able to visit Rinck Advertising Inc. in Lewiston, an advertising agency founded by Peter Rinck and his wife, Laura Rinck, and meet the next generation of “Mad Men and Women.”
Larry was a friend, mentor and protector of so many people over the years. Before passing, he said to Peter, his son, “It’s been a good life.” All who knew him would agree.
Larry was predeceased by his wife, Rosemary Krummen Rinck; his father, William Rinck; and mother, Gayla Kraus Rinck; and his brother, Ralph Rinck, and wife Marilyn.
He is survived by his sister, Shirley (Rinck) Berendsen, and husband, Charles; his brother, David Rinck, and wife, Jean; his close friend and companion, Joan Neal; his son, Peter Rinck, and his wife, Laura Rinck; grandchildren Amy Downing and husband, Toby Downing, Calvin Rinck and wife, Mariah Rinck, Sarah Bird and husband, Tony Bird, Jacob Irish and Isabella Rinck; and great-grandchildren Lacey, Henry, Theo, Lucille and Jasper; his dear nieces, Dr. Donna Krummen and husband, Brian Fox, Lori (Krummen) Hall and husband, Rob Hall; cousin, Margie (Krummen), and husband, Thomas Kotter; and former daughter-in-law, Mary Lawrence, and husband, David Sliman; as well as many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to send heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Schooner Estates as well as Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice for their kindness and gentle care of Larry.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at Funeral Alternatives, 25 Tampa St., Lewiston. A funeral Mass will be held at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 8815 E. Kemper Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 5. Interment will follow at St. Aloysius Cemetery, Cincinnati.
Lawrence E. Rinck
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