- Date Of Birth: June 6, 1921
- Date Of Death: October 15, 2009
- State: Illinois
Viola Irene Reining, 88, of Mt. Zion and formerly of rural Chapin, passed into her eternal life on October 15, 2009. Viola was born in Beardstown on June 6, 1921, the daughter of LeeRoy and Ella Davis Jaggers. On January 3, l939, she married Donald D. Pat Reining, also of Beardstown, and he preceded Viola to Heaven on May 30, 2003. Viola was a member of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church west of Jacksonville.
During WW II, Viola painted hand grenades at Nesco in Jacksonville. Later, for a number of years, she worked at J. C. Penney on the square in Jacksonville as a sales clerk. She advanced to dress buyer, and when the store moved to Lincoln Square, she became a furniture buyer and floor salesperson. Most of all, she was a devoted farmerâ??s wife and mother. She was known as Punkie to all, whether it be friend, aunt, grandmother, or great grandmother. She was known to be one of the best cooks around, especially when it came to fried chicken and potato salad. Friends and relatives came from miles around to sit at her table any time of the year to enjoy a country dinner. She consistently opened her door to any and all. Punkie loved having family around her, especially grandchildren. Granddaughters found themselves captive to hair brushing with ribbons and bows, and toddler grandsons frequently ended up with a kewpie doll curl on top of their heads.
Viola and Don have three sons, Michael (Linda) of Jacksonville, Steven (Linda) of Mt. Zion, and Douglas of Jacksonville. She has eight grandchildren, one of whom, Timothy Reining, a young son of Douglas, preceded her to Heaven and is hugging her now. Don and Viola have twelve great-grandchildren. Three sisters and one brother preceded Viola in death. She has one sister surviving, Nora Mae Gustafson of Galva, IL.
