Roger Reynolds

Roger B. Reynolds, 94, of Nisswa/Lakeshore died on Sunday, August 6, 2017, at Essentia Health/ St. Joseph Medical Center. Services, with Military honors for Roger, will be held on Friday, September 15, 2017 at 11:00am at Park United Methodist Church in Brainerd. Pastor Justin Halbersma will be officiating. Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the services.

Roger was born on August 29, 1922 in Clinton, Iowa to Charles and Wilma (Owens) Reynolds He was raised and educated in Maquoketa, Iowa. He went to college in Davenport, Iowa to receive his CPA.

Roger joined the Navy during World War II and was assigned to transport Marines on numerous attacks, landing on Japanese Islands in the South Pacific. Roger’s job was to transport the first wave of Marines from ship to shore and to avoid getting hit and sunk. After landing on the beach they dug their fox holes as fast as fury. When reinforcements came, Roger would return for more Marines and begin the transport process again. His heroism resulted in numerous medals and awards as the U.S. Marines advanced through countless island invasions towards Japan.

After the war, Roger married his sweetheart, Helen Bacon, on February 14, 1946. Together they operated a farm. During a vacation trip, they fell in love with the Nisswa area and bought two adjacent resorts on Lake Margaret. He merged them; naming the resort “Rainbow Bay Resort”. Roger loved seeing his guests every year and watching the kids grow to bring another generation of children to the resort. He loved being with young people, saying it kept him young.

Roger enjoyed fishing and loved his time at the lake. A good fish fry with his neighbors and guests or hosting a night at Mille Lacs Casino with family and friends were great fun for Roger. As a retired accountant, he developed a winning slot machine system, frequently coming home a winner with his god- son Mark Schmidt. Roger loved to ride around Lake Margaret on his pontoon named ‘The Helen”. Most of all Roger loved his wife, Helen, and their life together. When she became afflicted with MS, Roger tended to her at home on Lake Margaret and nursed her until she passed on in 2011.

Roger worked winters for Kummet, Larson & Bluth as an accountant preparing income taxes. Roger was elected as President of the Brainerd Area Chamber of Commerce. He was interested in government, and he spearheaded his cities planning and zoning committees to establish sanitation requirements for his beloved Lake Margaret. Roger also became heavily involved in Republican politics, routinely calling his prescient caucus to order and serve as a delegate to Cass county and state G.O.P. conventions. Also he was a loyal as an involved citizen supporter of numerous candidates, giving money, time and advice.

Roger was also a member of the Nisswa Chamber of Commerce and Park United Methodist Church.

Roger is survived by nieces, Dellene Till, Penny Kielman and Joni Harcourt; nephews, Lynn Evers, Jack Hurst and James Hurst; sister-in-law, Mary Albrecht; Stephen Aiken of Brooklyn Park, and Bonnie Grigsby of Mocksville, NC, who Roger thought of as family; and godson, Mark Schmidt. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Helen. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Park United Methodist Church of Brainerd or the Nisswa Lions Club. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel and Cremation Services in Baxter, 800-824-5051, www.brenny.com.

Visitation one hour prior to service.