Joseph Reinhart

Joseph James “J.J.” Reinhart, 83, of Toledo, passed away on Monday, October 28, 2024. He was born in Toledo, Ohio on September 28, 1941, to Joseph and Mabel (Morrison) Reinhart. Joe attended St. Thomas Aquinas Grade School, Central Catholic High School (Class of ’59), and The Toledo University. In his early years Joe served as an altar boy and considered becoming a priest. He often walked to The Little Sister of the Poor Home to serve Mass before school. He played basketball at St. Thomas Aquinas and football while at Central Catholic. In addition to being a great athlete, Joe was a skilled card player and enjoyed trips to the casino.

From the young age of 11, Joe was enamored with music – his parents bought him a guitar and he never put it down. Joe became a musician, playing with The Fascinators regularly at the Carousel Club. Other groups he played with include The Storms, Johnny and the Hurricanes and Mitch Ryder. His natural talent and perfect pitch enabled him to do what he loved for a living – make music. Joe’s greatest joy was playing guitar, but he also loved the piano. His skills allowed him to teach guitar to students of all ages. Following retirement, Joe moved to Sunset Senior Living where he enjoyed his last years – he even had access to a grand piano in their concert hall he could play and listen to with his many friends.

Joe is survived by his children, Lisa (Dean) Jaquillard, Joey (Susan Michael) Reinhart; grandson, Christopher Jaquillard; sister, Ritamae (Donald) Schlagheck; nieces, Maeve Eagle, Anais Gonzalez; nephew, Jurgen Gonzalez. He was preceded in death by his former spouse and mother of his children, Ranee; and beloved daughter, Christina, that they lost at the young age of 6.

Friends will be received on Monday, November 18, 2024, beginning at 10 a.m. at Little Flower Catholic Church, 5522 Dorr Street, Toledo, OH, where a Memorial Mass will begin at 11 a.m. Burial is private.