Obituary: Joyce Reinig

After graduation, Don began working for International Harvester and was soon transferred to Portland, Oregon. When Joyce flew out to visit, he proposed, and she accepted. They were married back in Omaha on Dec. 28, 1963, and celebrated with a lively party that reportedly started at 11 a.m. and lasted until 2 a.m. the next day.

Following the wedding, the couple returned to the Pacific Northwest. Don’s job led to frequent moves early on. They spent time in Tacoma, Washington, where their first daughter was born, before moving to Bend, Oregon, where they welcomed three more daughters. While Joyce kept up her nursing skills by working part-time at St. Charles Hospital, she always said that being home with her four daughters was the happiest time of her life. In 1971, they put down roots in Hood River, Oregon, after purchasing their own farm equipment dealership, Central Sales.

In Hood River, Joyce helped Don run the dealership for a few years before returning to nursing. She worked as an ICU and ER nurse at Hood River Hospital, then joined Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles, a major trauma center, where she spent 25 years. Joyce thrived in the fast pace of emergency medicine, often joking that she was a “trauma junkie.” But the emotional weight of the work stayed with her. She carried stories that shaped her, both heartbreaking and hopeful. A small angel statue and anonymous thank-you note once left for her served as reminders of the quiet impact she had on others. In her final years at MCMC, she managed the emergency department, earning the respect of colleagues and patients alike.

Joyce often reminisced about her first trip to Oregon to visit Don, recalling her awe at the beauty of the Columbia River Gorge. Her love for the region led her to civic involvement. She served nine years on the Hood River County Planning Commission before being appointed in 1987 as one of the 12 inaugural members of the bi-state Columbia River Gorge Commission — established by Congress to manage the 83-mile-long National Scenic Area. Representing Hood River County, she served with distinction for 25 years, twice as commission chair, and remains the longest-serving member in its history.

Over the years, Joyce and Don’s home became a favorite gathering place for their daughters and the many friends they brought home from college, some even staying for the summer. They hosted multiple Japanese exchange students from Hood River’s sister city Tsuruta, Japan. Joyce made everyone feel welcome, with plenty of food, laughter, and fun. Later, it became a favorite destination for her 10 grandchildren, always stocked with treats, toys, and backyard adventures — including a giant inflatable pool and a boat for the pond. She was a fantastic cook, loved her garden, and was known for going joyfully overboard on holiday decorations, especially at Christmas.

Joyce retired from Mid-Columbia Medical Center in 2006. In 2014, she faced the loss of Don, who had battled Alzheimer’s disease. After 50 years of marriage, she entered a new chapter of life on her own, living for a time in Long Beach, California, to be near her youngest daughter and her family, and later San Tan Valley, Arizona, where she was close to both her lifelong friend, Karen McRae, and her dear sister, Deborah Gilg. Both retired, the sisters shared several adventures together, including memorable trips to the Grand Canyon and Ireland before Deb’s unexpected passing in 2022. Joyce eventually returned to Portland to be closer to family. In early 2025, she was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia and, in time, moved into an adult care home in Beaverton, where she remained until the end of her life. Joyce will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her, but she is now at peace and reunited with Don.

Joyce is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law: DeLee and Dick Shoemaker, and Jennifer and Paul Ryan, all of Seattle, Washington; Michelle and John Becker of Portland; and Molly and David Montgomery of Long Beach, California. She is also survived by her 10 grandchildren: Tom and Dan Ryan; Samantha (Shoemaker) Joyce; Robert, and Riley Shoemaker; Grace, Klaus, and Maura Becker; and Callaghan and August Montgomery. Other surviving family include her brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Merry Roach of Prescott, Arizona, and her brother-in-law, Dan Gilg of Omaha. She was preceded in death by her parents Harry and Jacqueline Roach, and her sister Deborah Gilg all of Omaha.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Clare Catholic Church, 8535 SW 19th Ave., Portland, on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 1 p.m., with a reception to follow in the parish hall. Joyce’s ashes will be buried in Portsmouth, Iowa, beside Don and the rest of his family.

Columbia Gorge News, Nov. 26, 2025