Rodney J. Reisenauer, 56, Dickinson died Tuesday, December 16, 2008 in Ontario, Calif. of natural causes. Rodney’s funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at Ladbury Funeral Service with Fr. Todd Kreitinger presiding. Inurnment will take place at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Dickinson. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Tuesday at Ladbury Funeral Service.
Rod was born on March 24, 1952 to Frank and Marjorie (Shypkowski) Reisenauer in Dickinson, ND. He was the second oldest of four children and had many fond memories and stories about growing up on the family farm south of Belfield in the Gaylord Community. He attended country grade school and graduated from St. Mary’s High School in New England. Upon graduation he began his life long love of driving truck.
On October 19, 1974, Rod married his loving wife of 34 years, Donna Meissner. Together they raised four children. Rod’s first over the road trucking job was with TMI of Dickinson. While working for TMI he earned a million miles accident free driving award. This was a commendable achievement and something in which he took great pride. After driving truck for various companies in the oil fields of western North Dakota he started his own company, R and R Mowing and Seeding Service. Rod operated this company with his wife for 18 years. They sold the business in 1996 at which time Rod returned to driving truck over the road. Rod had been driving truck for Midnite Express of West Fargo for the last 12 years and cherished every last minute. He enjoyed going to new places, meeting many new faces, and was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need along the way. Rod had a big heart and storied history of taking the time while out on the road to stop and help those lost or in accidents.
When he was not driving truck over the road, he enjoyed spending time on the family farm with his father, drinking coffee at Trapper’s Kettle, and attending auction sales. Rod loved any opportunity to show pictures of his grandchildren and always had a joke or two to share. He always made the time to spend a few minutes with his children when passing through the area even though they are spread out across the Midwest and requested routes that brought him back through southwest ND to see his wife.
Rod is survived by his loving wife Donna; sons Scott, Bismarck, Kent (Stephanie), Fargo, Keith (Jackie), Bozeman, MT and daughter Tracy (Dean) Wanner, Overland Park, KS; one grandson Hunter Reisenauer and two granddaughters, Megan Wanner and Mya Reisenauer; father Frank, Belfield; brother Larry (Bonnie) Reisenauer, Belfield and sister Deb Frank, Dickinson. He was preceded in death by his mother, youngest sister Cheryl, and infant grandson Isaac Dean Wanner.
He will long be remembered for his unique sense of humor and contagious laugh. Rod will not only be missed and remembered by his family, but also by his fellow truckers and those he met along his journey.
