Ralph E. Rainey

Ralph Eugene Rainey, age 91 of Carlyle, died on Sunday, April 13, 2014, at Carlyle Healthcare Center in Carlyle, Illinois. He was born on December 12, 1922, in Section 1, Carlyle Township, Clinton County, Illinois, a son of Wallace A. and Jessie I. (Ringer) Rainey. His birthplace was the Clinton County Poor Farm, where his father was the resident superintendant. Soon after graduating from Carlyle High School in 1940, he operated a taxi service in Carlyle before enlisting in the United States Army on February 20, 1942. He married Frieda W. Goesling on May 9, 1946, at Messiah Lutheran Parsonage in Carlyle, by Rev. Paul F. Hartmann. Survivors are his wife - Frieda Rainey of Carlyle; 2 daughters - Marilyn Mason of Walnut Creek, California and Phyllis Albat and husband Edward of Carlyle; a daughter-in-law - Kim Rainey of McKinney, Texas; a sister - Lila Mahlandt of Carlyle; 3 grandsons - James Mason, Robert Mason and friend Kim, and Jason Rainey; 2 granddaughters - Tammy Eigenrauch and husband Wayne and Jessica Carver and husband Rusty; his great grandchildren - Tiffany and Travis Eigenrauch and Colt Rainey; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents - Wallace and Jessie Rainey; a son - Gary Rainey; a grandson - Charles H. Mason, III; 2 brothers - Walter and Floyd Rainey and 2 sisters - Myra Godell and Mildred Bruenemeyer. Mr. Rainey was a plumber by trade, licensed in Illinois and a member of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 101, Belleville for over 55 years. He worked mostly in the Belleville and Carlyle areas, and had a plumbing shop in Carlyle for a time. He and his wife also owned and operated Riverside Tavern from 1949 - 1956, and during that same time also ran Club Royale. Later, they owned and operated Reaban's Drive-In, which was later known as Rainey's Drive-In, for 18 years, beginning in 1969. During that time, they had a Pick-Ur-Own Strawberry Farm in Wheatfield Township from 1962 - 1978. They also ran a Trap and Skeet Shooting Range for a few years. His hobbies included trapshooting and genealogy. He competed in many shoots in numerous states, including 28 Grand American Tournaments. After many years of research, he published a 400 page family history of Rainey-Ringer and Allied Families in 1985. Mr. Rainey served 3 years and 7 months in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member and Past Adjutant of V.F.W. Post 3523, member and Past Commander of the American Legion Post 404 in Carlyle and a member of American Legion Post 1227 in Beckemeyer. He served on the combined firing squad for military funerals for many years. He was a Life Member of the Amateur Trapshooting Association; a member of the National Rifle Association; a contributor to the Rainey Times, a family research publication; a member and contributor to the Ogle/Ogles Family Association; a member and benefactor of the Clinton County Historical Society; Secretary-Treasurer of Yingst Cemetery Association and was a benefactor and caretaker of Yingst Cemetery for many years. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, April 17, 2014, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Carlyle with Rev. Steve Sommerer, officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at Yingst Cemetery in Carlyle. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 16, from 4:00 - 8:00 at Zieren Day Funeral Home, and on Thursday morning from 9:00 - 11:00 A.M. at Messiah Lutheran Church in Carlyle. Memorial donations in memory of Mr. Rainey are suggested to Yingst Cemetery and will be received at Zieren Day Funeral Home. Previous EventsVisitation
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Zieren Funeral Home 1111 Clinton Street
Carlyle, IL 62231 Visitation
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Messiah Lutheran Church 1011 13th Street
Carlyle, IL 62231 Funeral Service
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Messiah Lutheran Church 1011 13th Street
Carlyle, IL 62231