August 7, 2019 – Slinger, WI – Dawn M. Reineck (Schwartz) died at home, with her family on August 5, 2019. She was born on February 2, 1966, in Scotts Bluff NE, daughter of Philip D. and Betty J. Schwartz (Adams).
Dawn grew up in Milwaukee WI and attended St. Peter’s Grade School and graduated from Milwaukee Lutheran High School in 1984. She also attended UW Milwaukee for a while before taking on her career. Dawn worked for United Health Care for nearly 30 years processing claims, training and mentoring other new employees. In 1993, she met Greg Reineck when he asked her to dance at a country bar in Milwaukee. Over the next few weeks, Greg was the first one to say “I love you,” a fact Dawn reminded him of for many years. On April 29, 1995, Dawn and Greg were married and they recently celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary.
Dawn became a mom on April 4 1996, giving birth to our daughter, Brenna and then on July 19, 1999 our son, Hunter was born. Dawn lived her life for her family and at the end was most worried that she wouldn’t be here to see them anymore, she only wanted to be part of their lives.
In 2012, Dawn was diagnosed with CML Leukemia and lived with it for a couple years. In 2014, it had transformed into ALL Leukemia and the course of treatment was chemo, full-body radiation and then a Bone Marrow Transplant. After a failed attempt to get to transplant in 2014, one year later, she achieved the need medical requirements and had the Bone Marrow Transplant in April of 2015. She had a small relapse in 2016 but was declared cancer free in December or 2016. From there, life wasn’t quite the same as it was before but she made the most of it and got back to the things she loved to do. From a consequence of the transplant, Dawn’s lungs started to fail and they got progressively worse as the months went on, eventually taking her life. She never regretted the transplant because as tough as it was, with all the hospital stays, doctors, needles, treatments and sickness, she was able to extend her life by a few more years and that’s all she cared about.
Dawn will be remembered for many things in her life. She loved playing softball with her team in Milwaukee for many years and then onto a team in Slinger, she was the best softball pitcher there was, also coaching her daughter’s team in Slinger for a while. Dawn also loved to cook and bake, family and friends got the spoils of this so often, whether it be her famous Christmas cookies or dishes at family holidays or get-togethers with friends. Cookies, cakes, cheesecake, soups, casseroles or just about anything that looked good, Dawn made it better. Holidays will never be the same without her. In the past year, Dawn hasn’t been able to do much physically but remained in charge of everything in the house and she knew it. Her most recent favorite pastime was having Facetime with her granddaughter, Ivy, after each call, Dawn always felt better. In 2018, Dawn moved to Colorado, with her husband, for his job opportunity. In the short time they had together in Colorado, the disease grew stronger and Dawn grew weaker.
Dawn is survived by her Husband, Greg, her Daughter, Brenna Watson with her Husband Brandon and her Son, Hunter. She was also blessed with the most beautiful granddaughter, Ivy Grace Watson. She is also survived by her Mom, Betty Boche and her husband Paul, her Sister, Cindy Walsh (John Stuve) and her Brother, Mathew Schwartz (Heather Doran). Dawn was also very close to her Sister-In-Laws, Kathy Flancher (Larry Woytek) and Barb Yahnke (Doug), they were a huge help with Dawn and she thought of them as life-long sisters and friends. Dawn was further survived by Her Mother-in-Law, Elizabeth Reineck, 5 Sister-In-Laws aunts, uncles, cousins and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her Father, Philip, her Grandparents, her Uncle Donald and her Brother-In-Law, Jim Walsh.
Memorial Services will be held at Divine Savior Lutheran Church, 3200 Co Rd K, Hartford, at 4 p.m. Visitation for family and friends will be from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. A reception in the Church’s Fellowship Hall will immediately follow. All are most welcome. Private committal at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Condolences can be left at www.shimonfuneralhome.com.
