Today was “A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Leslie Reinhardt Reindl, August 1, 1936 – May 14, 2013.”
Of the photos of Leslie’s life on the display board, this one was my favorite.
(click to enlarge)

We were told that Leslie prepared the service, and if so, she did a beautiful job. There were solos: the American folk hymn “The Lone Wild Bird“; and the classic “The Rose“, both very effectively presented by soloists, as were the poems “Living in the Light” by Jeanne Leicester and Barbara McAfee; and Sleeping in the Forest by Mary Oliver.
At the end of the service, the Veterans for Peace rang the Peace Bell eleven times, a long-time tradition, dating back to the end of World War I in 1918.
Leslie chose to leave this earth quietly, and simply in a “green burial”, to again be part of the earth, and to thus participate in the endless cycle of renewal. Mention was made of the Threshold Network.
I didn’t know Leslie well, apparently few did, but she left behind a beautiful legacy of caring for others, with a particular passion for the environment and for peace.
The program for the Service included the following testament:
“Leslie’s basic motive for the many roles she played in her life was compassion. Whether it was as a church Elder or as an advocate for peace and the care of all creation, compassion for people, creatures, and the earth drove Leslie.
She had a vision that connecting with Nature, and especially the experience of caring for creation, could help people internalize a compassion for ALL life, and thence build their own ways to help us all in eventually achieving a true, universal, Peaceable Kingdom [this two word phrase likely from her friend, and mine, Bob Milner, who was at the service].
Leslie left a legacy including land and funds, ideas and ideals. she and her family hope that we, her friends and fellow members of [the Macalester Plymouth United Church, 1658 Lincoln Avenue St Paul 55105] might use her legacy to aid in furthering the emergence of that Kingdom. Her family is exploring ideas widely, as they make plans to continue Leslie’s commitment and action.
For those who would like to be part of these efforts with a memorial to Leslie, memorial donations can be made payable to Macalester Plymouth United Church with “Leslie Reindl memorial in the memo line. Funds will be used to further Leslie’s legacy.”
Earlier in the week, the Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers (MAP) established a fund dedicated to Leslie, anticipating the request today. Leslie was President of MAP in 2003 and 2004.
As I wrote to her husband, Wilhelm, today, “Leslie was on the court, and not in the stands. She was willing to do what was necessary to stand for her ideals for peace, justice and sustainability in our world.”
She was among the legion of people who will preserve the future for others on this planet of ours.
With gratitude to her husband of 43 years, Wilhelm, their daughter, Joanna, and friends, Linda Bergh, Connie Lindberg, Wes Davey and Molly Redmond who made today’s event so meaningful for all of us.

Leslie J. Reindl Reinhardt
August 1, 1936 – May 14,2013
Born in St. Paul MN, Graduate of
Macalester College,
Postgraduate at the University of
Minnesota,
Editor for McGraw Hill Publishing Co.
(Postgraduate Medicine
Sports Medicine),
Freelance Editor
of
Text- and Trade-books.
She was
a Lover of Plants, Animals and People,
ready
to give sanctuary to all of them,
especially to
“Lone Wild Birds”
and a tireless
Advocate of Compassion and Justice
for all Forms of Life.