March 29, 2024

Park Rhinehart

Mount Ayr

Melvin Park Rinehart, 93, of Mount Ayr passed away Saturday, May 23, 2020, at Clearview Home surrounded by family. An open visitation will be held at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2020, with services beginning 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at the funeral home.

Burial, with military honors, will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. Memorials are to the Mount Ayr United Methodist Church and Camp Courageous. Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr is in charge of the arrangements and online condolences may be left at www.armstrongfh.com.

Park was born April 25, 1927, to Verne and Nina (Rice) Rinehart on a farm north of the “Nation” in Worth County, Missouri. Park was welcomed by his sister Hope, his brother Bill, and later, another sister, Iris, joined the family.

Park attended country school in Missouri until the 5th grade when the family moved to Iowa. He then attended country school through 8th grade and graduated from Mt. Ayr High School with the class of 1944.

After graduation, Park joined the U.S. Navy and was trained as a radio operator. He was on a ship headed for the Philippines when World War II ended. He served out his time in Navy stateside and was honorably discharged in 1946.

On June 12, 1949, Park was united in marriage to Ruth Joan Lesan at the Methodist Church in Mt. Ayr. To this union two sons were born: Neil Evan in 1951 and Lynn Eric in 1954. Park and Joan lived on a farm south of town in Rice Township for almost 50 years. He was a good steward of the land and enjoyed the quiet life that living in the country can offer.

In the fall of 1997, Park and Joan moved into their new home in Mt. Ayr and were able to reside there until health issues prompted a move for both of them into Clearview Home five months ago.

Park was preceded in death by his parents Verne and Nina; parents-in-law Glen and Mabel Lesan; his three siblings and their spouses: Hope and Billy Wyman, Bill and June Rinehart, Iris and Gary Webb; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bob and Lorraine Lesan; sister-in-law Betty Lesan; and an infant granddaughter, Keely Rinehart.

Park is survived by his loving wife of almost 71 years, Joan. His legacy lives on through his sons: Neil and wife Sheila, Lynn and wife Kathy. His beloved grandchildren include: Allison (Justin) Billodeau, Matt (Lorraine) Rinehart, Korbie Rinehart and Tanner (Tess) Rinehart. Park was loved by his great-grandchildren: Greyson, Grant, Sully, Keely, Clyde, Ike and Harper. Park is also survived by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Rex and Marilyn Lesan.

Park will be remembered as a gentleman who loved his family deeply and saw the good in everyone.

He will be sorely missed.