EstherLee Reinart 08/01/2026

EstherLee Ursa (Hahn) Reinart, age 84, died peacefully on Aug 1, 2026 at Red Cedar Canyon Memory Care of complications from dementia, which she fought bravely for several years.

EstherLee was born on June 27, 1942 in Lanesboro, the daughter of Geneva (Crowe) Hahn and Clifford Hahn. Esther grew up on a farm near Forestville State Park, Preston, MN. At age six, she went to the Minnesota Braille and Sight Saving School, where she lived during the school year, until graduation in 1960. She graduated from Hamline University in 1965 with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Psychology. Esther spent her teaching career with St. Paul Public Schools at Webster, Gorman, North End, Como Park and Eastern Heights Elementary. She was most influenced by a system of teaching known as The Workshop Way.

Esther liked country music, sewing, gardening, pets, roller skating, dancing and working on home improvement projects. In 1973, she married John H. Reinart. John and Esther became interested in motorcycling, and toured the Canadian Rockies. Later, the river lured them to boating, where they enjoyed weekends and vacations on the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers. In 1985, they moved from St. Paul to River Falls, WI to be along the river, where they built their dream home. In 1995, in preparation for retirement, they left the river and moved east of River Falls to enjoy 21 acres of hobby farm and gardening.

John died in 1998 and Esther taught until 2000. She then traveled with companion Stan Ryhn, and decided on winters in Arizona, where she built a home in Lake Havasu City.  After Stan’s death, Esther became friends with Frank Hebl, where they would dance and sing karaoke in both WI and AZ.  In 2011, Esther chose a smaller home in Hudson, WI, near friends, shopping and transportation.  Line dancing made life fun and interesting for Esther until the year before her death.

Esther was preceded in death by parents Geneva and Cliff Hahn, husband, John H. Reinart, brother and sister-in-law, Jay and Susan Reinart.  She is survived by brother, William (Alma) Hahn, KY, nieces, nephews and their children. Stepdaughter Jane (Daniel) Savage, stepson John A. (Sue) Reinart, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, August 10, 2026 at 10:30 am at Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services (805 E Division St.) in River Falls.  Visitation will begin at 10:00 am until the time of the service.  A luncheon will follow the service.

Click here to watch Estherlee’s service live at 10:30 am

Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.