Maynard Elmer Ringeisen

Maynard Elmer Ringeisen (March 10, 1930 – August 21, 2013) Maynard Ringeisen, age 83, was most recently a resident of Tacoma WA since 2010 after moving here from the suburbs of Chicago, where he had resided most of his adulthood. He passed away peacefully at the Orchard Park Care Center where he had lived since moving to Pierce County. He was born March 10, 1930 in Sherburne, Minnesota, to Elmer and Pearl Ringeisen, and was one of nine brothers raised on the family farm there. He is survived within his immediate family only by his youngest brother, John, who remains a Sherburne resident. He was preceded in death by his wife of over 40 years, Barbara, who left us in December, 2009. Maynard is survived also by his step children, Nancy Hope and Michael Harmon of Tacoma, Mary Drew of Villa Park, Illinois, and Bobbie Lewman of Kiowa, Colorado, along with many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Maynard shared with all of us many of his memories of farm life in Minnesota. He was fond of recalling the terrific cooking he remembered by his mother, Pearl. He had a special relationship with his many brothers and remained close to them throughout his life. Maynard entered the Navy in 1950 during the Korean War, and remained on board his ship, the USS Jarvis for over three year before being honorably discharged in 1954. He went to work later with his older brother, Oakley, helping him run his glass shop in Villa Park, Illinois for many years. After marrying our mother in 1969, Maynard and Barbara moved to Winlock WA and later Chehalis where they resided until returning to the Chicago area in 1976 due to limited employment opportunities here. Maynard held several different jobs until his retirement and was very skilled with his hands. Maynard was always very active in church activities as a Seventh Day Adventist, and spent much of his free time involved in church related activities and socializing with their many church friends. At times he has been described as a ‘zealot’ for his faith and would always take the opportunity to share his Christian beliefs with family and others. His faith was very important to him, and he would spend many an evening reading his Bible or other SDA books. He would insist on tithing regularly, even when he had limited funds or was unemployed, and always observed the Sabbath on Saturdays as a sacred responsibility. He was an avid gardener for many years, maintaining an almost half acre garden in Chehalis WA during those years, and often donating much of his produce to local food banks and nursing homes, or sharing with other church members. He truly had learned in his youth how to make things grow, and we frequently enjoyed his fresh vegetables from the garden with our dinners. He was an avid Minnesota Vikings fan and we all shared in friendly competition with his Vikes versus our favorite teams. His favorite clothing in his later years were his Vikings t-shirt and hat, that he would wear to family occasions or to watch the game on television. Maynard loved coming to family activities for birthdays and holidays after moving to Tacoma, and especially the time he was able to spend with all the youngest family members. He loved being called ‘grandpa’ and always would save candy at the nursing home to bring to the children on visits. We had many great times the last several years going to the Tacoma Rainiers games nearby and eating ‘Rainier Dogs.’ Though we taught him the wonders of a good Dairy Queen blizzard, his passion remained most for a bowl of cole slaw from KFC whenever we went out for lunch. Our fondest memories of our Dad, revolved truly around his devotion and caring for our mother. We often marveled at his patience and consideration as a partner and the many ‘little things’ for which he was a most attentive spouse. He very much presented a model for a Christian marriage for others to observe. Maynard will be buried with his treasured wife, Barbara, at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent WA, with services to be held on August 29th at 11:30am.