Maurice "Mike" L. Reifsnyder Jr.

Memorial services will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 26, 2015 at First United Methodist Church, Gadsden for Maurice “Mike” L. Reifsnyder, Jr., 91 of Rainbow City, who passed away Monday, February 23, 2015. Rev. Harvey Beck will officiate. Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Services is directing.

Mr. Reifsnyder was born November 22, 1923 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Maurice and Augusta Reifsnyder. He grew up in Lansing, Michigan, raised by his grandmother, Lena Knapp Groves, after his mother’s premature death. He served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He graduated from Michigan State majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Mike was devoted to his loving wife, Joan. Their devotion to each other was observed by all, throughout their 54 years of marriage. Mike and his family resided in Cleveland, Ohio were he began working for Republic Steel in 1949 transferring to Gadsden in 1967. One of Mike’s hobbies was woodworking. He loved to design and build furniture. He was also an avid fisherman, when he and his wife were not in their motor home touring the United States. Mike was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Gadsden. He helped in the formation of the Methodist Church in Willowick, Ohio and severed on numerous boards in both churches. Mike was a Kiwanian in Ohio and Gadsden, and he was also a United Way volunteer and honoree recipient. After the death of his wife, Mike move to Regency Pointe, where he lived until his death.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Maurice and Augusta Reifsnyder; grandmother, Lena Knapp Groves; his loving wife, Joan; sisters, Charlotte Speer, Barbara Gurley, and Connie Nelson.

He is survived by Drs. David (Jeri) Reifsnyder, El Cerrito, California; Kathleen (Bob) Sisson, Gadsden; granddaughter, Julia (Carl) Williams, Houston Texas; great-grandchildren, Reese and Jack Williams; cousin, Em Reifsnyder; special friends, Bruce and Mickey Becher, Wakeman, Ohio; and many nieces and nephews.

The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers to be sent to the First United Methodist Church, 115 South 5ht St, Gadsden, or to the Alabama School of Math and Science 1255 Dauphin St, Mobile AL 36604.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to the wonderful nurses and staff at Regency Pointe for their care and dedication. They want to extend a thank you to the staff at Riverview Hospital and Gentiva Home Health and Hospice Care. Also, a sincere thank you, to concerned friends who sent special prayer and wishes to Mike and his family.

The family will accept friends from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Thursday at the church prior to the service.

Online condolences may be made at www.collier-butler.com.