Brett Reinhardt

During his short time on Earth, Brett Reinhardt enjoyed making others feel comfortable in his presence. Nothing brought him greater joy than spending time along the shores of Lake Michigan and the promises of his young family; his son, Hunter, and fiance, Shelby. Gone too soon, he leaves behind a reminder to never take anything for granted. Brett undoubtedly left a lasting impression on those he left behind.

Brett’s story began in the year 1992. Space Shuttle Endeavour was successfully launched in Florida, Cartoon Network was established on the Turner Broadcasting System, and the largest shopping center, Mall of America, opened its doors in Minnesota. Mark and Nancy Reinhardt were pleased to announce the birth of their baby boy after years of trying to conceive. Brett’s arrival on that sunny day of April 11th, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, brought much joy and promise to his parents. They were immensely excited and slightly nervous to be first-time parents.

Brett was a happy infant who was known as a good eater and easygoing. His mother, Nancy, worked as a nurse and his father, Mark, worked as an auto mechanic instructor. As a young child, Brett had an expanse of curiosity and exploration. He was always interested in how things worked. Sadly, his father passed away in 1999 sending his early years into a spiral of sorts. Brett went to live with a foster family in Otsego and later as a teen lived in a group home in Albion. He wasn’t much into sports but enjoyed riding his bike and playing video games including the popular Mario games. Computers and technology remained a special interest throughout his life. When he was much older, he was able to build his own computer. Brett was extremely knowledgeable about anything related to the technological world. Although they were apart, his mother, Nancy, stayed in touch with him during these years. She was always supportive and never stopped loving him.

As a student, Brett was diagnosed with ADHD making his educational years difficult. Later, he was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder and struggled throughout his young adult years to stay on his medication. His illness definitely impacted his social life from time to time. Despite these setbacks, Brett was fiercely independent and always had a strong sense of self. When he was feeling well, his laughter was contagious and he enjoyed the company of others. Recently, Brett was doing well and had worked hard to purchase his own car. He was proud to have a steady job as a dishwasher at Applebee’s restaurant in Battle Creek. With his young son, Hunter, to support, Brett had been thinking about going back to school to find a better job and life for his small family. He measured his successes by always having food on the table and a roof over his head. As difficult as things were from time to time, Brett was never a burden to others. Resilient beyond measure, he lived life one day at a time.

Optimistic as well as intelligent, Brett spent the majority of his life curious about a wide variety of topics. He was always up for adventure and loved being surrounded by the people he loved. Always known to put others first, there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his circle of strength. It was evident to all who knew him that he deeply cared for others. Brett leaves behind a rich collection of memories and good times. With a promising life ahead of him, sadly, he was tragically taken. May his loved ones look back fondly on the imprint he left on their hearts and may his memories be eternal.

Brett Reinhardt, age 31, of Battle Creek, Michigan, died on August 31, 2023, due to an act of violence. He is survived by his mother, Nancy; son, Hunter; and fiance, Shelby Craddock. Funeral Services will be held at 11 am on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at The Betzler & Thompson Life Story Funeral Home, 60900 M-40, Paw Paw. Visit Brett’s webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com to archive favorite memories and photos, and to sign his guestbook. Memorial contributions may be made to Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 60900 M-40, Paw Paw 269-657-3870.