Stephen Rinka

Stephen M. Rinka of Los Angeles, Calif., 53, was born in Neillsville. Steve was the second oldest of five siblings. He grew up in Loyal, playing basketball and football, graduating from Loyal High School in 1991. Following graduation, Steve moved to Minneapolis, Minn., to attend the University of Minnesota where he became a lifelong Gopher fan while, of course, still keeping his love for the Packers. While studying mortuary science at the U of M, he met his future wife, Holly.

Steve graduated in 1995 and following the completion of his mortuary apprenticeship in Milwaukee, Steve and Holly got married. Steve originally planned to take over his family funeral home in Loyal, but instead took a leap of faith and moved to Los Angeles. Initially, Steve worked at Forest Lawn, Glendale, then began at Southwestern Law School, where he graduated from in 2001. Steve practiced law for 25 years, with the last 15 in private practice.

Steve and Holly planted their roots and raised their children, Chloe and Carson, in their adopted City of Angels that Steve adored. He loved his wife and children deeply and was incredibly proud of them. They traversed the world together and cherished the special memories made everywhere from the North Pole to the pyramids in Egypt, and he especially enjoyed places of historical significance like their recent trip to Krakow, Poland.

A larger-than-life person with a booming voice, Steve had a presence you couldn’t miss. He was an inquisitive person, enjoyed a friendly debate, and was a great listener. Steve was very social and loved bringing friends and family together through phone calls, texts, and visits. A perfect day could include a mix of college football from 9 a.m. to sundown, catching up with friends at Robin Hood Pub, time in the hot tub, a gin martini, and finishing his day reading historical nonfiction.

He loved uncovering family history, genealogy, and treasured family heirlooms. Steve enjoyed good food, conversation, adventure, and the finer things in life. He will be remembered for his love of family, enjoyment of life, and the many friendships and memories he made along the way.

Steve is survived by his wife, Holly; his children, Chloe and Carson Rinka; parents, Patty Rinka and Peter Rinka (Nancy); siblings: Tammy Fontana, Allan (Katie) Rinka, Kathy (Jason) Griepentrog, and Paul (Angie) Rinka; aunts, Penny Blakeslee, and Grier (Jule) Willems; father- and mother-in-law, Fred and Mary Schweich; sisterin- law, Emiley (Giovanni) Sciulli; brother-in-law, Aric (Hazel) Schweich; nieces and nephews, Savanna Holum and Colton Rinka, Oskar Fontana, Morgan, Aston, and Dax Griepentrog, Lilly and Dale Rinka, and Sloan Schweich; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by grandparents, E. Morton and Katharine Blakeslee (stepfather Edmond Poulson) and Stephen and Frances Rinka; and aunts, Mary Jane (Rusty) Zukowski Dieringer and Corrine (Gene) Brekke.

Education and lifelong learning was very important to Steve so in lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to a 529 college fund established for: Chloe - https://backer.com/chloeseducation529fund Carson - https://backer.com/carsons529fund Rock on!

PAID OBITUARY 188448