Chris Rhinehart
Oldest child of Kenneth Keith and Beulah Ione (Byers) Rhinehart, Chris was born on September 21, 1936. He graduated Adams-Friendship Area High School in the class of 1954. He ran cross country and was a FFA member. Chris served in the US Army from February 1959 to January 1961 in Korea doing construction work. He received an Honorable Discharge and was a Decorated Marksman (rifle). Chris worked for DL Gasser Construction starting April 1966 (36 years) retiring on December 31, 2002. He remains a legend as Bony among crews still today. After retiring from DL Gasser Construction he continued working for his cousin Dale at Rhinehart Construction Adams, WI until 2017. Chris purchased the family farm in Easton, WI from his parents in 1968, milking cows and crop farming.
On December 23, 1973 he married the love of his life Clara Ann Burdi Nero in Chicago, IL.
Chris enjoyed spending time with family, nightly dinners at Jeff and Sara’s house, Wednesday night supper club and Friday night Fish Fries at his brother’s Springville Tap along with helping his family with all their projects.
Chris enjoyed watching the Wisconsin Badges, Packers and attending games of the Adams-Friendship High School basketball team.
Chris loved his work, cutting wood and the outdoors. He enjoyed taking rides to see what was happening in his community, stopping for visits with neighbors and family, watching for deer with a stop for ice cream on the way.
He had a passion for fishing: Trout fishing, bluegill fishing, and ice fishing… Chris could be found at the creek behind his house, the Easton Mill Pond or on one of many special fishing trips to the lake in Birchwood with his family and fishing buddy, Jordan.
Deer hunting was also a family event, hunting opening weekend in the marsh with his son Joe, grandchildren Ryan, Tracy and Rocco. For years Uncle Chris’s house has been the meeting point for the family’s annual Thanksgiving Day deer drives.
In life, he was Uncle Chris to most in the community. Uncle Chris always choose to give back the youth of the community supporting scholarships for students at Adams Friendship Area Schools, Adams Friendship FFA, and supporting youth at the Adams County Fair livestock sale. He said the previous generations helped him gain his education with a scholarship to UW Ag Short Course, so it was his turn to give back. Chris and his late wife, Clara, were also great supporters of our local hospital foundation.
Chris was preceded in death by his wife Clara Ann (Burdi) Rhinehart, step-son Joseph Michael Nero, parents Kenneth and Beulah (Byers) Rhinehart, brothers George and Larry Rhinehart, sister Carol Babcock, in laws Nick Babcock, Ernelle, Cathleen, & Judith Rhinehart.
Survivors:
Brother: Kenneth “Jerry” (Linda) Rhinehart,
Daughter-in-law Deborah Nero
Grandchildren: Joseph & Stephanie Nero, Ryan & Tracy Nero; Robert & Amanda Nero; Steven & Corinne Nero- Great Grand Children Madison, Samantha, Chloe, Rocco, Ashlyn, Natalie, Michael, Joseph Frank Nero, Brooklyn, Samantha and Iris Aragon. Great-great-grandchildren Stella Szot and Luca Devereux
Nieces & Nephews:
Kristy (Joe) Huber – Jeffrey (Sara) Huber, Josh (Emma) Huber, Jordan (Heidi) Huber
Mike (Tori) Babcock- Kendall Babcock, Chris (Rachel) Babcock
Scott (Kim) Babcock, Beth Babcock, Ben (Brenna) Babcock,
Dan (Ellen) Babcock,
Rhonda (Gary) Henningsen. Nicki Babcock, Monique Rios,
David (Julie) Rhinehart and family
Connie (Ron) Frymark and family
Andy (Cathy) Rhinehart and family
Michelle Rhinehart-Friedli and family
Great-Great Nieces and Nephews with two more expected this spring
Uncle Chris will be deeply missed by his cousins, and extended family members and the community.
Special Thanks to his cousin Vernon Rhinehart, care-givers Bonnie Stratton, Emma Hamilton and caregivers from Cooperative Care of Wautoma and the staff from Our House Senior Living in Wisconsin Dells.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 2, 2024, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Friendship, Wisconsin. Father David Bruener will officiate. Military honors will follow Mass at church. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday December 1, 2024, at Roseberry’s Funeral Home, and again from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass at church on Monday.
Interment will be a private family ceremony at the Easton Cemetery, Town of Easton, Wisconsin.
Roseberry’s Funeral Home is assisting the family. Visit www.roseberrys.com for online condolences and further information.
I will always be grateful for Boney letting me know that there is no oil filter for a wacker.
To all of the family & friends of Chris- we are so sorry for your loss & a huge one it is!!!!! Chris was a very good person. I too was a classmate & proud to say he was our friend also. He & Clara would do anything for any body. Thank you, Vern, for all you did for him. God be with all of you at this sad time. Hans & Dorothy (Reichhoff) Menck.
Our deepest sympathy to the entire family.
Chris will truly be missed by so many!
Chris and Clara had hearts of gold.
I am sure Clara, Joey and Chris had a heck of a reunion in heaven.
I know the Easton bluff will always have a shining star watching over us all!
Always enjoyed meeting up with Chris at Springville Tap or just seeing him sitting at his kitchen table when we’d drive by. Our sympathy to you all.
Our condolences to the family
We’re sad to learn of Chris’ passing. May the love of family and friends be with you during this most difficult time.
To Chris’ family, we are sending sincere condolences and sympathy to you all. There are some that I would love to give and probably will give a big hug to. You are in our thoughts and prayers at this time. Just remember that Chris had a long and beautiful life and know that you all were a big part of that. You took wonderful care of him, and it was harder at the end here, but you did what was best for him. You loved him and it showed. Sorry I can’t be there for the funeral, but know I am in spirit. Love you
Our sympathies to all of Chris’ extended family. He was a gentle giant of a man who supported and encouraged others! Clara was so blessed, she told me that often.
Chris was a very Sweet man. It was my pleasure to help care for him. My deepest sympathy to the family.
To Danny, Scott, Kristy, Mike, Rhonda and all of Chris’s families, I send my condolences. I know you were all close with him and will miss him very much. Growing up close with the Rhinehart family in Easton, I know Chris was a very thoughtful and kind person. He drove Carol and I around on many adventures before we were old enough to drive. When taking our gang of kids trick or treating we always made sure to go to Chris’s because he enjoyed the kids coming so much. He was a real icon of Easton and driving past the farm will never be the same now. Rest in Peace Chris, we’ll miss you
So sorry to hear of Chris’ passing. He was always friendly and talkative. A hard working, family and community minded person. He will be missed by so many people.
Sounds like he was a wonderful man.
You all were and are blessed
It was a pleasure to take care of Chris
I have no words….
To the family of Chris
Where to start….he was truly a great and caring man ! He was the most devoted and loyal employee there was He always went above and beyond when assisting his customers and co~workers . He was a one of a kind person and a pillar of the community!! Treasure the memories ! RIP Chris!
So sorry to hear of Chris passing . He will be missed in the community.
To the Rhinehart extended Rhinehart, family, our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Chris was most definitely a special person and the most friendly person whenever you seen him. Let all of his memories bring a good feeling to us all for just knowing him. RIP Chris. Dennis&Judy Allen
My deepest condolences to all the family.
So sorry to hear of Chris’s passing. He was a great generous member of the community.
So sorry to hear about Chris. I’m glad I got to know n help him when he was at home. He was a good man..enjoyed his talks n taking him to the corner pump
for a newspaper. Thoughts n prayers to the family.
Lynn Novak
Chris was a kind and generous man. He will be missed. I will always remember both Chris and Clara, they were special people.
Chris was the sweetest person, and I’m very sorry for your loss
Truly one of the most caring, lovable persons we have known. Will be missed by so many.
Jeff, Sara and family,
Our deepest sympathies to you. Cherish the memories.
Sincerest sympathy to all. Remember the good times. He led a good long life and taught so many pertinent lessons along the way.
Our deepest and most heart felt condolences to all. Uncle Chris was one of the great ones.
It was a pleasure to have Chris as a friend and classmate of my husband Richard and me in 1954. My deepest sympathy and prayers to his family as you go through this difficult time. May he Rest In Peace and Eternal Light Shine Upon Him.
So sorry to hear of Chris’s passing. He was a great friend to all he met. He will be sorely missed.