James Joseph Gross Rinehart

James Joseph Gross Rinehart was born on December 12, 1940, in Danville, Illinois. Six weeks after his birth, his mother, Josephine Cahill Gross, died of a brain tumor, leaving him and his three older sisters, Betty May, 16, Eileen, 14 and Nancy, 12, without a home. At a time when fathers rarely raised children alone, James spent his earliest years with various Cahill families in Kokomo and LaPorte before the four siblings were placed at St. Vincent’s Orphan Asylum on Wells Street in Fort Wayne. His father, Ralph Albines Gross died in 1946 of tuberculosis at the Irene Byron Tuberculosis Sanatorium.

He was adopted as a toddler by John and Emma Jane Rinehart, who nurtured his creative spirit. They ensured he was provided for and encouraged his love for art, music, and scouting. James attended St. Jude’s Catholic School graduating as the “humming hive of ’55,” and was a graduate of Central Catholic High School class of 1959. He was the first man to graduate from Saint Francis College in 1963 and earned a master’s degree in education there a few years later. His early career began as a student teacher at Bishop Luers High School, and then at Hessen Cassel Catholic Elementary School.

He was introduced to Patricia DeKoninck at a gathering in Hessen Cassel and they married in 1969. They raised three children, Melissa, and twins, Ben and Aimee, each of whom inherited his curiosity, sense of humor and interest in politics.

James spent the first part of his career as a lay person for the Catholic Church, teaching in Fort Wayne, leading the choir at the Immaculate Conception Church in Auburn, Indiana, and was a principal at Saint Patrick’s Catholic School in Bryan, Ohio. In the late 1970s, he made a career shift to work as a lobbyist for the Chamber of Commerce in Fort Wayne. He relished work that took him to the state house every lobbying session and enjoyed the politicking. He returned to teaching in the mid-1980s at Heritage High School and then Leo where he retired in 1995.

James was a self-guided philosopher, historian, geographer, linguist, and lifelong unapologetic Democrat who never met a stranger or missed an opportunity to challenge or debate. His passion for politics, religion, and the finer points of fertilizing plants made dinner conversations eventful. James liked wearing fedoras, three-piece suits, cufflinks, pocket squares, tie pins, and wingtips, and he had enough phrases in Latin, French, Spanish, German, and Russian to charm any audience.

His collection of nearly a hundred pipes was legendary, some nearly burned through the bottom from use, and many of his trousers had holes in the pockets from tobacco not quite extinguished. James extensive record album collection included classical music, show tunes, Bob Dylan and Enya, and his stamp collection lined the walls of his home office, organized by country. His passion for history and geography meant that he could recall maps, battles, and border disputes without pause. James found solace in nature, animals, a well-tended garden, classical music, and his cat, Frodo.

He is survived by his brother, Jerome (Jan) Rinehart; daughters, Melissa and Aimee; his son, Benjamin (Joshua Cobbs); and four grandchildren, Sedona Purdy, Harper Rinehart-Cobbs, Ramey Rinehart-Cobbs and Lev Vitrak. James’ three older sisters, an older brother, birth parents, and adoptive parents all preceded him in death.

A funeral service will be 11:00 am on Monday, February 24, 2025 at Hockemeyer & Miller Funeral Home, 6131 St. Joe Road, Fort Wayne with visitation one hour prior. Visitation will also be from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at the funeral home. Burial will be in Catholic Cemetery, Fort Wayne.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to Humane Fort Wayne or Lutheran Life Villages. Condolences and memories of James can be left online at www.hockemeyermillerfh.com