Loraine Reed Sprinkel, 93, died peacefully on October 7 surrounded by her family, after a brief illness. Her first husband Robert Reed, her second husband Beryl Sprinkel and her brother Charles Kiefer predeceased her.  She is survived by her children Janet Reed (Phil Pagoria) and David Reed (Ann), her grandchildren Meredith Rumsey Brown (Dustin), Erin Reed Rumsey (Romie Gibly), Michael David Reed (Elisabeth), Lauren Marie Reed and David Walsh Reed, and great-grandchildren Smith Rumsey Gibly, Leo Rumsey Gibly and Madeline Elisabeth Reed. She adored her family, and her family adored her.

Born on Chicago’s South Side in the shadow of the Great Depression and WW2, Mom was strong, capable and determined from the start. At Fenger High School, she ran the Girls’ Athletic Association, wrote for the school newspaper and played intramural sports. Determined to go to college, but lacking the means, she was awarded a scholarship to Kalamazoo College, and graduated from high school early to earn the rest of her costs. Soon after she entered Kalamazoo, WW2 ended, the soldiers came home, and she met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Reed, a WW2 fighter pilot returning to college after his service.  The weekend after she graduated – Cum Laude with a BS in Economics – they married, and shared 41 good and full years together until his untimely death in 1990.  In 1993, she married Beryl Sprinkel, an economist and Cabinet Member to Ronald Reagan, with whom she lived until his death in 2009.

Mom was strong, capable and determined in every phase of her adult life as well.  She and Dad moved many times during their first years together, and each time, Mom reached out with her winning personality to build a new community of neighbors, some of whom became lifelong friends. In addition to being an always-supportive, energetic and wonderfully pro-active mother, she made time to run one of our local PTAs, as well as various golf organizations; she  designed, knitted and sewed much of her family’s clothing (from mohair sweaters to Halloween costumes to kilts to ball gowns);  and in midlife, went back to college, earned a teaching certificate and taught 3^rd grade at Heather Hill School in Flossmoor.

Somewhere along the line, Mom also took up golf and tennis, which she pursued with great passion and skill until her 80s, impressing everyone with how consistently and unerringly straight she could hit the ball, whether with a golf club or a tennis racquet.  When a misdiagnosed infection took two fingers on her right hand, she simply switched to a two-handed backhand.    

And later in life, she discovered a passion for art. First, she taught herself to silk screen, and designed and marketed her cards, stationery and other creations. From there she moved to painting, using acrylics and water color paints and her keen eye for color to create both representational and abstract works in her unique style. Several years ago, a collection of her paintings went on display at the Flossmoor Public Library.

And for a person who didn’t take her first plane flight until she was 23, Mom had the rare opportunity to travel the world, first with our Dad and later with Beryl.  She went on safari in Africa, walked rope bridges in the Amazon, rode sea turtles in the Galapagos, walked on the Great Wall, saw the Pyramids and the Sphinx, traveled the Rhone and the Rhine and the Yangzte, and most importantly to her and our Dad, played St. Andrews in Scotland.

Through it all, she always had time for us.  All our lives, she was there at our tournaments and concerts, our swim meets and plays – everything we did – cheering our successes and seeing us through our challenges. In later years, we spent time together every year in her beloved second home in Ft. Myers, where we swam and golfed and shopped and dined and generally enjoyed each other’s company.  And when declining health brought Mom back to the Midwest full time, we were able to see her every week and to return to her some of the support she so freely gave us throughout our lives. 

No one can replace our Mom. She will always remain in our hearts. She made the most of her 93 years, and we are richer for her life and her influence.

Interment will be private, and any possible memorial event will await further Covid 19 developments.  In her memory, contributions can be made to the Western Golf Association/ Evans Scholars Foundation, Americans for the Arts (americansforthearts.org) or a charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to Hallowell & James Funeral Home at 708/352-6500.