Eugene Reinerio

MUSKEGO, Wis. - Eugene Reinerio, 95, resident of Tudor Oaks Senior Living Community in Muskego, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, with family and friends close by.

He was born on Aug. 9, 1923, in Pence, Wis., son of the late Dominic and Anna (Brackett) Reinerio. Eugene attended local schools and graduated from Hurley High School in 1941. After a tour of duty serving with an Army medical section in WWII, he was honorably discharged with several service medals in 1946.

On June 19, 1948, Eugene married the love of his life, Bernice Calligaro, in a wedding at the Pence church in the Italian community where they both grew up. They resided in Madison while Eugene attended the University of Wisconsin, receiving a degree in geology. He went on to work in the field of oil exploration, employed by a U.S. company in various locations throughout the west and Canada. In 1959, he started his own business in Madison and achieved significant success as a geophysicist, developing a proprietary technique to store natural gas underground.

In 2013, Eugene moved into Tudor Oaks and developed many new friendships in the community. He was known for his unforgettable smile and genuine interest in others. He loved his life and was grateful for all he had accomplished. Gene was an avid reader of history and investment books and loved listening to opera. He touched many lives and will always be remembered for his humor, his intelligence, and his "Gene-isms," like "Keep it moving."

Survivors include two daughters, Deborah, Oakland, Calif., and Emma (Michael) Busby, Chicken, Alaska; two grandchildren, Josea and Wesley Busby and their partners, Anthony Sandoval and Kyenna (McKinstry) Busby; along with five sisters, Isabel, Eleanor, Kathy, Rosemarie and, in particular, Virginia (Reinerio) and Richard Randa, who visited almost daily; and all the extended family living in the Milwaukee area who have always known Eugene as Curly, due to his curly hair. He was proud to be a part of such a large family!

Cremation has taken place. A memorial will be held at Tudor Oaks in Muskego on Saturday, Nov. 17. Interment will be in the Hurley Cemetery on June 19, 2019.

Please post condolences on InformedChoice.org or send to the daughters: Deborah Reinerio, 6122 Merced Ave., Oakland, CA 94611; Emma Busby, 10 Quail Lane 271, Tubac, AZ 85646.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, University of Wisconsin Medical School, 7818 Big Sky Drive, Suite 215, Madison, WI 53719.