Lois (Loie) Elaine Reiner, age 96, of Valparaiso, Indiana passed peacefully at home surrounded by family on October 8,2025. Loie was born to Martin and Emma Dau Bertram on July 17, 1929, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was the youngest in her family and preceded in death by her siblings Ruthie Bertram, Winifred Scheips, and Robert Bertram, as well as by her husband of fifty-four years, Walt Reiner.
Left to cherish Loie's memory are her children Patricia Terrell (George), Rebecca Reiner, Elizabeth Gingerich, Mark Reiner (Linda); her grandchildren Annie Terrell (CJ Bruch), Rachel Good (John Mason, IV), Olivia Leyva (Nick), Dylan Terrell (Pilar Quintanilla Martinez), Katie Good (Jason Higden), Susannah Larson (Nick), Kyla Reiner (Alex Voorhies), and Clarice Reiner; and her great- grandchildren Lucia Terrell Quintanilla, Ben Larson, and Ray Larson. She will also be profoundly missed by the scores of people for whom Loie has been a friend, aunt, mentor, co-conspirator, advocate and ally.
Loie first came to Valparaiso in 1948 as a student at Valparaiso University and remained in her community for most of her adult life, except for three transformative years living in Chicago and two overseas in Germany. Her partnership with her husband Walt was born from her early intuition that a life together should be one of adventure and risk. And it was. They lived by example, building a family and community through the practice of love in action.
Loie’s relationships with her family members and friends deepened each year as they found delight, growth, and motivation from one another. Her experiences expanded her outlook and her connections. Loie built strong relationships everywhere she went, creating connections with all sorts of people: with students in Chicago through the Prince of Peace Volunteers and in Germany, where she joined Walt to run Valparaiso University’s overseas program for two years; with children and staff as “camp mother” at Camp Concordia in Michigan; with prisoners through her work at Prisoners and Community Together (PACT); with other mothers with whom she built strong and decades-long alliances through Project Neighbors; with activists who could always rely upon her to stand with them in fights for human rights and peace; and with great friends, including her best friend of 78 years, Johanna McGill. Relationships so defined Loie that she became many things to many people and each of her experiences allowed her to take risks in ways that fed her soul, strengthened her community, and created new pathways for people to care for one another.
Those who knew Loie will remember her infectious laugh, which could be heard often. She was always adventurous, always kind and full of grace, and always ready to work toward making her community and the world a more inclusive, welcoming and supportive one. Whether locking arms to protest the Vietnam War at the 1968 Democratic National Convention or current injustices with allies in downtown Valparaiso, co-founding and expanding the extraordinary local organization Project Neighbors, sending somewhat incomprehensible voice to text messages to her family, or enthusiastically cheering on the Valparaiso University basketball team, Loie was the bright, encouraging peg at the center of the unstoppable wheel of social justice known well in her community.
The public is welcome to attend Loie's Celebration of Life event at the Valparaiso University Chapel of the Resurrection (1600 Chapel Drive, Valparaiso, Indiana) on Saturday, November 15th at 3pm and the gathering that follows at the University’s Harre Union across the street following at 5pm.
Loie requests that everyone please consider making a contribution to the work of her life, Project Neighbors. Donations can be sent to the “Lois Reiner Memorial Fund” on the Project Neighbors website (http://projectneighbors.org/donate) or by mail to Project Neighbors, 454 College, Valparaiso, Indiana.
GUESTBOOK
Dear friends, We know you all will miss Loie terribly. She was such an inspiration to Ron and I through the years. There are so many ways her example spurred us to a higher level of action and love. We have held Project Neighbors in our heart even as we moved far away. I think you will like this little story. Ron was on the board of PACT for a while. On reading Loie’s tribute and seeing the words for the acronym, Prisoners and Community Together, I was reminded of Ron’s mom telling someone that Ron worked with People and Criminals Together…..you gotta love moms. Our thoughts and love remain with you, -Ron and Linda Kuker
I will always treasure my friendship with Loie. Words will never describe the love, and the feeling of loss. The privilege of knowing Loie, Walt and the whole family keeps reminding me that we are all family, community. Thank you, Loie. Dear Neighbor, dearer friend. -Gail Lutze
I'm so, so sorry to see that she's passed. I only recently met her, but she was an amazing person. I'm sure she was very well loved and is very missed. -Crystal Kempher
Loie was my father’s (Ed Senne) best friend. After my mom died Loie called dad every day to check in on him and make sure he was doing ok. If she couldn’t reach him she would reach out to me to make sure he was ok. She was just that kind of friend. You know the one in a million friend we all hope to be blessed with in our lifetime. I remember when we’d visit mom and dad and then dad after I had kids Loie would always stop by during out visit with some sort of treat for the family. She would sit and listen to our life, to both the kids and I. She took a truly active interest. She was and forever will be an amazing woman who changed the life of everyone she touched. She will be deeply missed. In joy, however, her laughter, stories and the many things she help build/start with remain in our hearts and in our minds. May we all fight the good fight just like Loie. In that she lives on. -Tanya Senne-Smith
When I think of Loie, the first word that comes to mind is “PASSIONATE “. She was passionate about her family and friends, her community, her Alma Mater Valparaiso University, Project Neighbors, and Social Justice. I ran into her recently in downtown Valpo, and at 96 years young, she was marching and holding a sign declaring her beliefs. Loie was an unstoppable bundle of energy, joy, and love. She will be remembered fondly and her passion will be greatly missed. -Mariam Crosmer
One need look no further for an example of "think global, act local". She along with her beloved husband will dwell with the saints. Her shining example will not be quelled by her passing, but live on in the good works that will continue for as long as there is need. Memory Eternal. My those who knew her find comfort in the love they shared. -John Derado
Sincere condolences to all Loie’s dear family. It is so hard to lose a matriarch especially to have her go out with her light still shining so brightly! She achieved so much for so many, but I think one of her greatest accomplishments are her amazing children. Lead kindly light. -Gwen Poncher
Loie was my father’s (Ed Senne) best friend. After my mom died Loie called dad every day to check in on him and make sure he was doing ok. If she couldn’t reach him she would reach out to me to make sure he was ok. She was just that kind of friend. You know the one in a million friend we all hope to be blessed with in our lifetime. I remember when we’d visit mom and dad and then dad after I had kids Loie would always stop by during out visit with some sort of treat for the family. She would sit and listen to our life, to both the kids and I. She took a truly active interest. She was and forever will be an amazing woman who changed the life of everyone she touched. She will be deeply missed. In joy, however, her laughter, stories and the many things she help build/start with remain in our hearts and in our minds. May we all fight the good fight just like Loie. In that she lives on. -Tanya Senne-Smith
My dearest friend, Loie. She called me and Johanna McGill every day, "just checking in on you. Wanting to make sure you are okay." She was blessed to have her family, especially her three daughters in Valparaiso. Her son Mark, worked from and upstairs bedroom the last few weeks. All four of her kids surrounded her as she breathed her last. What a blessed way to go to Jesus. She was not afraid to die; in fact, she gave me the impression that she rather looked forward to it. I am 93, just three years behind her. She was a dear friend and a wonderful inspiration to me. Working beside her in Project Neighbors was a blessing to many, and especially to me. May she rest in peace, -Ed Senne
I have fond memories of Lois and Walt in the early 2000s when I first moved to Valparaiso and was attending the university. Walt spoke on occasions and my social work classes. The work that was being done at the time was spear headed by Walt himself many times with his own two hands. To see both of their profound insight to filling needs has never left me. I learned to see through a different set of eyes on a level that I never thought possible and behind, that was their incredible daughter professor Gingerich who inspired me from the first day, I stepped into her classroom and truly looked up to her: with such her fire and a vigor, and became one of the women in my life that I truly admire. With such love deep and deep respect for all you’ve done thank you Lois, -Tina Mulinaro
My connection with the Reiner family is from many years ago while growing up in Valparaiso. Our Bretscher family spent several summers at Camp Concordia--fond memories of Walt & Loie while there. The Bretscher children grew up with the Reiner children. Sending love & prayers to the Reiner family now--may the Lord be your peace, comfort, strength & hope during the difficult time. -Sarah (Bretscher) Stoehr
