John A. Rienstra

John A. Rienstra, age 76, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Tuesday March 16, 2021 while receiving the loving care of his family.

John was born and raised in Paterson, NJ and was the oldest of three children to Tice and Angelina Rienstra.  Growing up in Paterson, John attended Eastside High School where he graduated with the class of 1962.  Following his high school graduation, John enrolled at St Peter’s College in Jersey City, NJ.  John was only in college for a couple of years when he felt the call to serve his country.  In 1964, John enlisted with the United States Army and served honorably from 1964 until 1965.  During his service, John was stationed in Alaska for about six months and was an expert Rifleman.  John was honorably discharged early from the service due to the fact that his father had become seriously ill.

After returning home from his service with the US Army, John worked as a Banker for a short time then started his own business in the Painting and Paperhanging industry.  Subsequent to owning his own business, John went to work for his father-in-law at the Corral restaurant on Hazel Street in Clifton, NJ.  In 1980 John and his two brother-in-laws teamed up and bought a banquet hall named the Mountainside Inn.  This establishment was also located in Clifton, just a few doors down from the Corral.  John and his brother-in-laws owned and operated the Mountainside for over fifteen years.  In 1995, John branched out on his own and bought the Branchbrook Manor, another banquet hall located in Bellville.  John owned and operated the Branchbrook Manor for approximately eleven years, selling it in 2004.  Following John’s retirement, he worked as a banquet manager for the Crestmont Country Club and Rock Spring Country Club, both located in West Orange, NJ.

In 1960 while a student at Eastside High School in Paterson, John was introduced to an attractive young lady by the name of Judy Barbato.  The two of them being juniors in high school hit it off great and started dating.  In 1962, their graduating year, John and Judy were awarded the title of “High School Sweethearts.”  John and Judy continued dating after high school and as fate would have it they fell I love and were married on January 15, 1966 at St Joseph’s RC Church in Paterson shortly after John’s discharge from the military.  The couple settled in Paterson for a while then moved to West Paterson, and eventually in 1978, moved to Wayne.  John and Judy have called Wayne their home ever since.  While living in Wayne, they raised their three children, Alan, Eric, and Alyson.  In 1997 tragedy struck John and his family’s lives when John’s son Alan passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.

John was a truly dedicated New York Giants and New York Yankees fan.  His family owned season tickets to the New York Giants’ games for many years.  They were also fortunate enough to have attended two Super Bowls.  Super Bowl XXV held a special place in their hearts because of the NY Giants’ victory over the Buffalo Bills.   Another of John’s favorite past times was travel.  He, his wife, and his family have visited various destinations including Cancun, Italy, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, the Bahamas, Jamaica and Disney.

John and his family owned a vacation home in Ortley Beach at the Jersey Shore where they have fond memories of spending their summers every year.  John was a wonderfully social person who loved to talk to people.  He was quite often the life of the party and a guy you couldn’t help but like.  He was loved by everyone that knew him.  Aside from all of John’s interests, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to John than spending quality time with this wife, children and grandchildren.  John was a devoted father and grandfather.  He and his wife Judy cherished more than fifty-five years of loving and loyal marriage together.  John was not only devoted to his family but also to his Catholic Faith.  He and his family were parishioners of St Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes for many years.  John was a truly special person who touched the lives of many people and will be missed by everyone that knew him.

John is survived by his wife Judy (Barbato) of Wayne, one son Eric Rienstra and his wife Nicole of Pompton Lakes, one daughter Alyson and her husband Dave of Hawthorne, two sisters; Mae Gorga and her husband Barry of Longs, SC, and Gloria Quinn and her husband Joseph of Old Forge PA, five grandchildren; Tyce, Nicholas, Gavin, Alexandria, and Christopher, two brother-in-laws; Louis Barbato and his wife Gina of Boonton, and James Barbato and his wife Diane of North Haledon.  John was predeceased by his son Alan Rienstra in 1997.

In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s name may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105-9959.   http://www.stjude.org