On Monday, December 29, 2015, Karen Lee Reinhart departed this life at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

She is survived by her husband John C. Reinhart of Danville, whom she married on April 15, 1967. Her surviving family includes sisters Julie S. Worley of Novato, CA and Janette R. Hamilton of Urbana; sons Bill A. Reinhart of Normal and Robert A. Reinhart of Chicago; and niece Cinnamon A. Hamilton of Danville.

She was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Elsie Shore of Urbana and her twin, Sharon S. DuFrane of Plainfield, IL. Born on December 27, 1942, Karen attended Urbana schools, graduating from Urbana High School in 1961. She worked as an accounts payable clerk at Hyster in Danville, and in 1985 at the age of 42 she decided to enter postsecondary education and attended Danville Area Community College and Eastern Illinois University. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Career Occupations in 1989, her teaching certificate in 1993, and finally pursued Master of Science in Education from EIU, graduating in 2002 at the age of 59, having achieved a 4.0/4.0 GPA over her entire educational career. She taught as a substitute teacher and later as a primary school teacher for Danville School District 118 from 1990-2007, primarily at Garfield, East Park, and Meade Park Elementary.

Karen's interests included paper writing/research, WWII history, and collecting costume jewelry, Hall china, and 1940s/50s-era dolls. A visitation will take place from 4:00-6:00 pm on Friday, January 1, 2016, at the Renner-Wikoff Chapel, 1900 S. Philo Rd., Urbana, and a Funeral Mass will occur at St. Mary's Catholic Church outside of Pesotum at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 2, 2016. Rev. Robert Lampitt will officiate. Burial will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery following the mass.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Paul Grade School, 1307 N. Walnut St., Danville, IL. 61832.