2021 Hometown Heroes

Page 14 2021 Hometown HEROES Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS May 27, 2021 Reifsteck and her husband Wallace moved to Lincoln with their five children in 1969 and lived here until 1982 while her husband was pastor of St. John United Church of Christ. After the four oldest children graduated from High School, the Reifsteck’s spent time in Freeport and Decatur. After retirement, Reifsteck found herself back in Lincoln to help care for her oldest daughter, Lucinda, who had an accident and became a head trauma resident at St. Clara’s Manor until her death in 2011. A minister’s wife typically does an immeasurable amount of volunteer work, but it was at St. Clara’s that Reifsteck’s volunteer work took flight. While at St. Clara’s Manor Reifsteck started to feed the birds in the courtyard, helped with the flower garden (planted in memory of her daughter), did nail care for the residents and other once-a-month programs as part of her church’s ministry. Today, Reifsteck is secretary of the new St. Clara’s Rehab and Senior Care Board. Reifsteck and her late husband joined to help the Meals on Wheels program when the route was totally covered as a mission program of St. John United Church of Christ. Later they became the coordinators, which she continues to do today. In recent years it has become “the church route” as many of the drivers/deliverers in teams of two are from other churches in the community. These volunteers deliver meals and check on the well-being of those receiving the meals. When changes occur, Community A hero is a person who has made honorable or courageous accomplishments. Characteristics of a hero might include determination, honesty, inspirational, and helpful, among others. Though Tonita (often known as “Toni”) Reifsteck is a community hero for all the sacrifices she makes not because she has to, but because she wants to. CONTINUED u Tonita Reifsteck By Lisa Ramlow and Karen Hargis