Delores E. Rinderer, age 95 of Highland, IL, died Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at her home in Highland, IL.
She was born on May 3, 1930, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland, IL, the daughter of Albert and Emma (nee Sudhoff) Reinacher.
On Tuesday, May 9, 1950, she married Dean W. Rinderer at Evangelical United Church of Christ (formerly the E & R Church) in Highland, IL, who passed away February 13, 2018.
She was a member of the Evangelical United Church of Christ, EvUCC Women’s Quilting Group, Madison County Farm Bureau, St. Louis Metro Polka Club and Honorary Member of Helvetia Sharpshooters.
Delores grew up on a farm west of Highland, and also east of Highland. She went to nursery school when it was on the square in Highland; attended Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd grades at the new school built in 1935; went to Oak Grove Country School for four years; then went back to Highland Public School, graduating from Highland High School in 1948.
After graduation, she worked at Moulton-Bartley Shoe Factory until it’s closing in 1949. Then she worked at Christian Education Company until 1953.
After marriage, she lived on farms south of Highland. Besides being a housewife, she had a big garden and did lots of canning. She also drove tractors to help her husband farm. At harvest time, she drove grain trucks and even tandem trucks, hauling grain until she was 80 years old. She took care of farming bookwork, plus bookwork for the bulldozing business for Rinderer Brothers Bulldozing.
She loved to polka and waltz. Delores went to many festivals with Dean in several states and went on many trips to Florida and also trips to Hawaii, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, London, England and Tangier, Africa, as well as on cruises to the Bahamas and the Panama Canal.
She enjoyed playing cards (Jass, Euchre, Pinochle and Five Crowns) with many friends. The game of Five Crowns she played before passing, she won and had a smirk on her face! She especially enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She put together many, many scrapbooks and family photo albums. She picked out a lot of walnuts and pecans for her family. Baking cookies was enjoyable for her, as the great grandkids always had to grab one or two when they came to visit.
In her later years, she enjoyed crocheting, embroidering, counted-cross stitching and quilting. She made a queen-size quilt and a baby quilt for each of her grandchildren. She quilted over 200 Linus Quilts that were donated to children at the hospital.
Survivors include:
- Daughter – Nancy L. Rinderer, Trenton, IL
- Daughter – Jan M. (Joseph) Tebbe, Highland, IL
- Son – Roger D. (special friend – Sharon Kaufman) Rinderer, Trenton, IL
- Grandchild – Stacy (David) Emig
- Grandchild – Scott (Jenna) Deuser
- Grandchild – Jennifer (Scott) Schrage
- Grandchild – Shannon (Brad) Buhmann
- Grandchild – Joel (Fiancée – Dana Alesaski) Rinderer
- Grandchild – Cheryl (Andrew) Wirz
- Great Grandchild – Eli Emig
- Great Grandchild – Jack Emig
- Great Grandchild – Demi Deuser
- Great Grandchild – Alaina Schrage
- Great Grandchild – Piper Rinderer
- Great Grandchild – Maxton Rinderer
- Great Grandchild – Liam Rinderer
- Great Grandchild – Eliana Wirz
- Great Grandchild – Emma Wirz
She was preceded in death by:
- Husband – Dean W. Rinderer (died 2/13/2018)
- Father – Albert L. Reinacher (died 11/15/1985)
- Mother – Emma L. Reinacher, Sudhoff (died 7/8/1986)
- Sister – Dorothy Reinacher (died 11/26/1924, at birth)
- Brother – Melvin R. Reinacher (died 2/9/2014)
- Brother – Curtis A. Reinacher (died 9/28/2013)
- Sister – Virginia I. Vosholler (died 10/12/2025)
- Sister-In-Law – Elizabeth A. “Liz” Reinacher (died 8/8/2004)
- Sister-In-Law – Wilma M. Reinacher (died 8/28/2006)
- Brother-In-Law – Anton J. “Tony” Vosholler (died 3/1/2015)
Arrangements are being handled by Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland, IL.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland, IL and from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at Evangelical United Church of Christ in Highland, IL.
Funeral Service will be at 10:00 AM on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at Evangelical United Church of Christ in Highland, IL, with Rev. William E. Kapp, Pastor, Evangelical United Church of Christ, officiating.
Interment will be at Highland City Cemetery in Highland, IL.
The family suggests memorials to Evangelical United Church of Christ or Highland-Pierron Volunteer Fire Department.
Click here to share a memory or send a condolence to Delores’ family
To learn more about our funeral home, visit Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home & Dauderman Mortuary.
