Cheryl Sue Reinking

Cheryl Sue Reinking, 77, of Fort Wayne, passed away on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was born on May 3, 1946, in Huntington County, to Wilbur Luallen Close and Gyneth (Wince) Close. Cheryl graduated from Wabash High School in 1964 and, after graduating from cosmetology school, styled hair in Fort Wayne for over 40 years. She started her career at the prestigious “Marcel de Paris Salon” and worked at other shops, allowing her to style for countless ladies, including Fort Wayne broadcasting pioneer Ann Colone. Cheryl was an expert at doing “big hair”. She ended her career styling for seniors at “Christian Care” in Bluffton, Indiana. She loved her customers and looked forward to sharing the details of their lives, and some corny jokes. Her laugh was infectious.

Cheryl married her high school sweetheart, John Wilson, with whom she had a daughter, Stacey. In 1982 she married Richard Reinking, with whom Cheryl shared 25 years of marriage before his passing. Cheryl loved reading, cooking (especially ladyfingers, cheesecake, and deviled eggs), movies, birds, dogs, and watching her grandson, Parker Manges, play basketball. She was a member of Trinity English Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne.

Cheryl is survived by her daughter, Stacey (Tom) Manges, her stepchildren, Lynn (Sharon) Reinking, Dawn Reinking and Benny Reinking, her grandson Parker Manges and his fiancé Madeleine Hershberger, and step grandchildren Chad (Kelli) Zelt, Crystal Zelt, Art (Tiffany) Zelt, Mathan Kohne, Spencer Reinking and 12 step-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wilbur and Ginny Close and her husband, Richard Reinking. Memorials to Trinity English Lutheran Church (“Feed the Hungry”) and Humane Fort Wayne (pet rescue non-profit).

A memorial service will be held on November 18th, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour prior, at Trinity English Lutheran Church, 450 W. Washington Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802.