Colonel Brad Reinert, USAF-Ret, was called home by Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday April 13, 2022.

Born to James W. Reinert, Sr and Agnes Diane (Burke) Reinert on November 1, 1955 at St Joseph Hospital, Elgin, IL. Colonel Reinert was raised as a life-long Roman Catholic. He attended St Joseph Catholic School, Elgin, IL during his elementary school years. His parents chose to relocate the family to Longboat Key, FL in the summer of 1969, after years of holiday season vacationing on Florida's west coast, in the Tampa Bay area.

Colonel Reinert attended Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota, FL graduating in June 1973. It was then that he and his late brother Jim Reinert, Jr, decided to enlist in the US Air Force for four years. Brad completed basic training and technical school; then proceeded to his first permanent party assignment at Langley AFB, VA where he met his Forever Love, MaryAnn Phares, circa 1973. After dating for nearly three years, Brad and MaryAnn were married at the Langley AFB VA Catholic Chapel on April 10, 1976. Brad was assigned to Clark AFB, Philippines at the time as a Sergeant; and returned to Hampton, VA to marry the love of his life.

Later, MaryAnn and son Brad Jr, joined Brad Sr in the Philippines. They returned to the states in September 1977. Brad's military career, advocated/supported by MaryAnn, spanned nearly 40 years of active duty service. Brad worked toward his college degree in night school while MaryAnn raised Brad Jr and Joey. Joey came along in September 1978. Brad eventually earned his Bachelor's Degree from Troy State University in 1982 and applied for and was accepted for an Air Force commission the same year. He graduated from Air Force Officer Training School in January 1983. Brad went on to earn a Master's Degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in 1994.

Brad and MaryAnn and their boys spanned the globe with military assignments. And although they packed up and moved 27 times, Brad and MaryAnn weathered the tumult of new assignments, new schools and establishing new friends, where their deep mutual love for one another bonded them for life.

Fast forward 26 years, Brad was promoted to the grade of Colonel on September 1, 2005 with MaryAnn and their sons at his side…a prideful moment for the entire family. MaryAnn was so proud of her Brad over their 36 years serving in the Air Force. When Brad retired from the Air Force in July 2009, he began a career as a federal civil servant at US Central Command, MacDill AFB, FL. where he served until December 2019. After discussing with MaryAnn, they made the decision to break away from MacDill AFB when Brad was hired by Hillsborough County to serve in various leadership positions.

"Colonel Brad" as many called him, sadly lost the love of his "wife for life" of nearly 46 years on October 8, 2021 when MaryAnn succumbed to ALS and God called her Home to her eternal reward. Colonel Brad often said when she left this earth, she took a large chunk of his heart with her. He named a star in the sky in her honor, and whenever it appeared at night, he'd be on the driveway talking and singing to her.

Brad and MaryAnn Reinert were the epitome of a beautiful "Great Love Story". Colonel Brad and MaryAnn loved life and enjoyed nothing more than raising their two sons, their family dogs over the years, and watching their two grandsons, Brayden and Noah come into the world and develop. Colonel Brad and MaryAnn saw no higher honor than being parents and grandparents and are now reunited and "together forever."

Colonel Brad is survived by his two sons; Brad Jr (Melissa, Brayden & Noah) of Lynn Haven, FL; and Joey (Liz) of Boca Raton, FL.

Colonel Brad will be cremated and interred with his Forever Love, MaryAnn at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the ALS foundation in memory of Colonel Brad's "wife for life" MaryAnn.

Celebration of Life Mass will be held at St. Stephen's Catholic Church, Riverview, FL at a future date.