Official Obituary of
Carl E. Reisner
August 22, 1929 ~ December 9, 2022 (age 93) 93 Years Old
Carl Reisner Obituary
Carl E. Reisner completed his lifetime of hard work on December 9, 2022, at the age of 93, surrounded by family at his home in Deckerville, MI. Carl was born on August 22, 1929, in Deckerville to Gustav Reisner and Pauline Reisner.
Carl mentioned earlier this fall that living to 93 was a blessing, but that it was also hard work. Hard work is something that Carl was never afraid of. At the age of 17, he left the family farm and joined his older brothers, Gus, Irv and Arnold in the Merchant Marines working on steam powered freighters sailing the Great Lakes. Carl spent over 17 seasons working on the Great Lakes. At the time he earned his Chief Engineer's license he was the youngest man to do so and he held that distinction for several decades. Anyone that spent much time with Carl would likely have heard a story or two about his time on the Venus, Elba or some other freighter that he or his brothers had sailed on.
During his time working on the lake freighters, he bought a home in Hamburg, NY, where he had two sons, Alan and Marc, with his wife, Jane (Fronczak) Reisner. Shortly after moving back to the farm in Deckerville, Jane passed away. Not being afraid of hard work, Carl began raising Alan and Marc on his own, while farming at the same time. Many days would be spent mowing hay in the dark before Alan and Marc woke up; they also spent many days sitting on the fender of the tractor that Carl was driving. Carl later married Jeanne Bittner (Chen) and they welcomed a daughter, Rhonda.
On November 27, 1966, he married Bonnie (Hartsell) Reisner, and they had two sons, Michael and Dean. Together they continued to work hard to provide for their family. There were good years and there were lean years but throughout their life together, Carl and Bonnie were friends to many and always willing to lend a hand or help out someone in need. They also had fun along the way, taking numerous trips to Europe and a very memorable trip later in life to Hawaii where they were treated like royalty by a family from Vietnam that they sponsored to come to the United States in the 1970s.
Carl spent the majority of his life working on his farm about a half mile from where he grew up. While he had many stories from his years working on the lakes, he was most at peace on the farm and whether he was driving a pickup, the golf cart or the gator, there was usually a yellow dog or a barn cat riding with him, or at least following close behind. In addition to farming, Carl spent many years as a township tax assessor, he was on the Sanilac County Soil Conservation District Board of Directors, and he was appointed and then became the first elected Sanilac County Road Commissioner. Carl was also a devout Christian and longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Forestville, MI. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity, assisted with the building of a new church and parsonage there, and spent many years as the church's treasurer.
Carl was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Gustav (Violet) of Manitowoc, WI, Irvin (Loretta) of Largo, FL, Arthur (Helen) of Deckerville, MI, Arnold (Muriel) of Lambertville, MI, and his sister, Ada (Ken) Wagester of Remus, MI, and a granddaughter, Rebecca Reisner.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Bonnie, who has essentially provided around the clock care and comfort to him the past few months. He is also survived by his children, Alan (Andrea) of Denver, CO, Marc (Cindy) of Port Sanilac, MI, Rhonda Van Deusen of Ada, MI, Michael (Melanie) of Deckerville, MI and Dean (Emily) of Grand Haven, MI, as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and a yellow dog and some barn cats that are utterly lost without him.
At Carl's request, there will be no funeral but instead a private graveside service for family. His family will host a celebration of life later in 2023.
Condolences may be sent on-line to apseufuneralhome.net.
Events Details are pending. Cemetery Details Trinity Lutheran Cemetery 5034 Bay City-Forestville Rd. Minden City, MI 48456 Loading map
Carl mentioned earlier this fall that living to 93 was a blessing, but that it was also hard work. Hard work is something that Carl was never afraid of. At the age of 17, he left the family farm and joined his older brothers, Gus, Irv and Arnold in the Merchant Marines working on steam powered freighters sailing the Great Lakes. Carl spent over 17 seasons working on the Great Lakes. At the time he earned his Chief Engineer's license he was the youngest man to do so and he held that distinction for several decades. Anyone that spent much time with Carl would likely have heard a story or two about his time on the Venus, Elba or some other freighter that he or his brothers had sailed on.
During his time working on the lake freighters, he bought a home in Hamburg, NY, where he had two sons, Alan and Marc, with his wife, Jane (Fronczak) Reisner. Shortly after moving back to the farm in Deckerville, Jane passed away. Not being afraid of hard work, Carl began raising Alan and Marc on his own, while farming at the same time. Many days would be spent mowing hay in the dark before Alan and Marc woke up; they also spent many days sitting on the fender of the tractor that Carl was driving. Carl later married Jeanne Bittner (Chen) and they welcomed a daughter, Rhonda.
On November 27, 1966, he married Bonnie (Hartsell) Reisner, and they had two sons, Michael and Dean. Together they continued to work hard to provide for their family. There were good years and there were lean years but throughout their life together, Carl and Bonnie were friends to many and always willing to lend a hand or help out someone in need. They also had fun along the way, taking numerous trips to Europe and a very memorable trip later in life to Hawaii where they were treated like royalty by a family from Vietnam that they sponsored to come to the United States in the 1970s.
Carl spent the majority of his life working on his farm about a half mile from where he grew up. While he had many stories from his years working on the lakes, he was most at peace on the farm and whether he was driving a pickup, the golf cart or the gator, there was usually a yellow dog or a barn cat riding with him, or at least following close behind. In addition to farming, Carl spent many years as a township tax assessor, he was on the Sanilac County Soil Conservation District Board of Directors, and he was appointed and then became the first elected Sanilac County Road Commissioner. Carl was also a devout Christian and longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Forestville, MI. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity, assisted with the building of a new church and parsonage there, and spent many years as the church's treasurer.
Carl was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Gustav (Violet) of Manitowoc, WI, Irvin (Loretta) of Largo, FL, Arthur (Helen) of Deckerville, MI, Arnold (Muriel) of Lambertville, MI, and his sister, Ada (Ken) Wagester of Remus, MI, and a granddaughter, Rebecca Reisner.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Bonnie, who has essentially provided around the clock care and comfort to him the past few months. He is also survived by his children, Alan (Andrea) of Denver, CO, Marc (Cindy) of Port Sanilac, MI, Rhonda Van Deusen of Ada, MI, Michael (Melanie) of Deckerville, MI and Dean (Emily) of Grand Haven, MI, as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and a yellow dog and some barn cats that are utterly lost without him.
At Carl's request, there will be no funeral but instead a private graveside service for family. His family will host a celebration of life later in 2023.
Condolences may be sent on-line to apseufuneralhome.net.
Events Details are pending. Cemetery Details Trinity Lutheran Cemetery 5034 Bay City-Forestville Rd. Minden City, MI 48456 Loading map
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