Obituary for John Henry Reisert
John Henry Reisert
September 21, 1938 – June 22, 2022
John Henry Reisert passed away on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, surrounded by family members. Born in Louisville, KY where he lived most of his life until buying a retirement home in Naples, FL where he wintered. He was married for 57 years to his loving and devoted wife, Mary Mershon Reisert, also of Louisville and Naples.
John was preceded in death by his parents, William A. Reisert, Jr. and Ruth Marie Dentinger Reisert; his brothers, William (Bill) A. Reisert III and Robert E. Reisert; and his nephew, Kurt Reisert. Besides his wife Mary, he is survived by his son, John Boarman Reisert (Carl Simpson); his sisters, Rita Olshansky (David), Ruth Ann Gatti (Bill), and his Reisert nieces & nephews: Trina O'Brien (Jay), Kiki Strother (Bobby), Bill Reisert, Greg Reisert, Nick Reisert (Kathy), Peter Reisert, Heidi Hutchins (Peter), Andrea Gatti Haddock (Jeff), Aimee Gatti Ackermann, Billy Gatti (Jamie), Charissa Gatti, Tim Kelty, Kevin Kelty, and numerous great nieces & nephews.
John attended St. Xavier High School and graduated St. Joseph’s High School in Bardstown, KY. In 1960, he graduated the University of Notre Dame with a degree in finance. A devoted “Domer,” John was a member of the Sorin Society, The Cavanaugh Council, and The Ted and Ned Circle (Fr. Ted Hesbrugh and Fr. Ned Joyce).
John Henry (as Mary liked to call him) was passionate about Notre Dame football attending many games both at home and away to cheer on his “Fighting Irish.” He and Mary loved taking friends to South Bend to tour the campus and to see a ND game. Reuniting with classmates at their outrageous tailgates highlighted these football weekends.
After graduation, John joined the family business Reisert Insurance. In 1984, he started his own agency, Reisert & Associates, which he took to a highly successful and well-known family-owned company. Clients and competitors respected his wealth of knowledge and his dedication to customers’ needs. John always attributed his business success to his Notre Dame education.
During his “mid-life” crisis, John took up flying and became a licensed pilot. Mary always said, “John Henry took to flying like a duck takes to water.” He was an excellent pilot. Flying his Beechcraft Bonanza with Mary as his co-pilot, they flew to ND games, to their Miami condo, to neighboring cites for “date-nights,” and even made a cross-country trip to the West Coast. John shared his love of flying by taking friends on numerous flights. When he could no longer pilot himself, he continued his love of flying by acquiring joint ownership in a small jet.
The first Saturday in May was a huge event for John, as Louisville is the Home of Churchill Downs and the venue for the renowned Kentucky Derby. He and Mary thrilled in hosting large Derby breakfasts for friends and out-of-town guests and taking them out to the races. In recent years, they have enjoyed hosting friends from Naples in their home and taking them to experience the “the best two minutes in sports.” John was a great supporter of Churchill Downs and was a member of The Turf Club there for many years.
An outdoorsman, John loved to hunt; he spent hours cutting the fields on his huge tractor; and cleared the woods using his many chainsaws (which worried Mary immensely). John Henry’s vegetable garden was legendary for its size and beautiful produce that he canned himself and shared with friends and family.
John Henry was known for his love of many things, especially collecting, cooking, wining and dining, and sunning. John and Mary hunted for treasures at auctions, antique shows, and estate sales. His friends enjoyed his culinary skills and bragged about his grilled tenderloin. He and Mary were members of the Quail West Country Club in Naples where they joined The Quail West Wine Club. Hand in hand with his love of good wines, dining at his favorite restaurants remained a passion. Being a “sun worshiper,” everyone noted his year-round tan much of which was acquired at the LaPlaya Beach Club in Naples where he and Mary were members. Perhaps his greatest loves were his German Shepherds which he spoiled beyond reason!
One of the best compliments you could pay John Henry was to tell him, “You are your brother’s keeper”: And he was! John was devoted to his brother Robert who was physically handicapped from the age of 17 until his demise at 72. John made Robert laugh, made sure he got his Bloody Marys, and often “sprang him from jail” (nursing home) to take him to his favorite restaurants. John took care of all of Robert’s finances, making sure he was always well cared for and secure. The brothers had an abiding love for each other.
Perhaps John Henry’s greatest virtues were that he was honest to the core and a loyal friend. He was always ready to lend a hand and give expert advice on many things, especially if it was the Stock Market. John Henry could tell a joke (and he had many) like no one else. He was quick with the one-liner and had a nickname for everything. He was fortunate to have so many friends who loved him. He treasured those friendships. John Henry will be missed.
Visitation will be held on Monday, June 27 from 2 until 7 p.m. at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, KY 40205. A funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, June 28 at 10 am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 3345 Lexington Rd, Louisville, KY 40206, followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make your expressions of sympathy to one of the following; University of Notre Dame Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government; (Office of Development, University of Notre Dame, 1100 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556); St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105) or St Joseph Children’s Home (2827 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206).
September 21, 1938 – June 22, 2022
John Henry Reisert passed away on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, surrounded by family members. Born in Louisville, KY where he lived most of his life until buying a retirement home in Naples, FL where he wintered. He was married for 57 years to his loving and devoted wife, Mary Mershon Reisert, also of Louisville and Naples.
John was preceded in death by his parents, William A. Reisert, Jr. and Ruth Marie Dentinger Reisert; his brothers, William (Bill) A. Reisert III and Robert E. Reisert; and his nephew, Kurt Reisert. Besides his wife Mary, he is survived by his son, John Boarman Reisert (Carl Simpson); his sisters, Rita Olshansky (David), Ruth Ann Gatti (Bill), and his Reisert nieces & nephews: Trina O'Brien (Jay), Kiki Strother (Bobby), Bill Reisert, Greg Reisert, Nick Reisert (Kathy), Peter Reisert, Heidi Hutchins (Peter), Andrea Gatti Haddock (Jeff), Aimee Gatti Ackermann, Billy Gatti (Jamie), Charissa Gatti, Tim Kelty, Kevin Kelty, and numerous great nieces & nephews.
John attended St. Xavier High School and graduated St. Joseph’s High School in Bardstown, KY. In 1960, he graduated the University of Notre Dame with a degree in finance. A devoted “Domer,” John was a member of the Sorin Society, The Cavanaugh Council, and The Ted and Ned Circle (Fr. Ted Hesbrugh and Fr. Ned Joyce).
John Henry (as Mary liked to call him) was passionate about Notre Dame football attending many games both at home and away to cheer on his “Fighting Irish.” He and Mary loved taking friends to South Bend to tour the campus and to see a ND game. Reuniting with classmates at their outrageous tailgates highlighted these football weekends.
After graduation, John joined the family business Reisert Insurance. In 1984, he started his own agency, Reisert & Associates, which he took to a highly successful and well-known family-owned company. Clients and competitors respected his wealth of knowledge and his dedication to customers’ needs. John always attributed his business success to his Notre Dame education.
During his “mid-life” crisis, John took up flying and became a licensed pilot. Mary always said, “John Henry took to flying like a duck takes to water.” He was an excellent pilot. Flying his Beechcraft Bonanza with Mary as his co-pilot, they flew to ND games, to their Miami condo, to neighboring cites for “date-nights,” and even made a cross-country trip to the West Coast. John shared his love of flying by taking friends on numerous flights. When he could no longer pilot himself, he continued his love of flying by acquiring joint ownership in a small jet.
The first Saturday in May was a huge event for John, as Louisville is the Home of Churchill Downs and the venue for the renowned Kentucky Derby. He and Mary thrilled in hosting large Derby breakfasts for friends and out-of-town guests and taking them out to the races. In recent years, they have enjoyed hosting friends from Naples in their home and taking them to experience the “the best two minutes in sports.” John was a great supporter of Churchill Downs and was a member of The Turf Club there for many years.
An outdoorsman, John loved to hunt; he spent hours cutting the fields on his huge tractor; and cleared the woods using his many chainsaws (which worried Mary immensely). John Henry’s vegetable garden was legendary for its size and beautiful produce that he canned himself and shared with friends and family.
John Henry was known for his love of many things, especially collecting, cooking, wining and dining, and sunning. John and Mary hunted for treasures at auctions, antique shows, and estate sales. His friends enjoyed his culinary skills and bragged about his grilled tenderloin. He and Mary were members of the Quail West Country Club in Naples where they joined The Quail West Wine Club. Hand in hand with his love of good wines, dining at his favorite restaurants remained a passion. Being a “sun worshiper,” everyone noted his year-round tan much of which was acquired at the LaPlaya Beach Club in Naples where he and Mary were members. Perhaps his greatest loves were his German Shepherds which he spoiled beyond reason!
One of the best compliments you could pay John Henry was to tell him, “You are your brother’s keeper”: And he was! John was devoted to his brother Robert who was physically handicapped from the age of 17 until his demise at 72. John made Robert laugh, made sure he got his Bloody Marys, and often “sprang him from jail” (nursing home) to take him to his favorite restaurants. John took care of all of Robert’s finances, making sure he was always well cared for and secure. The brothers had an abiding love for each other.
Perhaps John Henry’s greatest virtues were that he was honest to the core and a loyal friend. He was always ready to lend a hand and give expert advice on many things, especially if it was the Stock Market. John Henry could tell a joke (and he had many) like no one else. He was quick with the one-liner and had a nickname for everything. He was fortunate to have so many friends who loved him. He treasured those friendships. John Henry will be missed.
Visitation will be held on Monday, June 27 from 2 until 7 p.m. at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, KY 40205. A funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, June 28 at 10 am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 3345 Lexington Rd, Louisville, KY 40206, followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make your expressions of sympathy to one of the following; University of Notre Dame Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government; (Office of Development, University of Notre Dame, 1100 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556); St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105) or St Joseph Children’s Home (2827 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206).