Gustav J. Rinas

Gustav John Rinas, age 98, of New Britain, CT went home to be with His Lord and Savior on March 4th, where He will be reunited with his loving wife who passed away in 2003 and with many other family members and friends who have preceded him to Heaven. Gustav worked for twenty-three years at Stanley Tools as a tool and die maker and eventually became an instructor of that trade. When he left Stanley Tools, he and his two brothers, Alfred and William Rinas formed the Rinas Oil Company where he worked for an additional twenty-three years. Gustav retired in 1979. Gustav was very active in the work of the Lord. As an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church, he taught Sunday School for eighteen years. He and his wife Edna were co-Bible teachers for more than twenty years for the deaf and hearing impaired at the American School for the Deaf. Winning the deaf to Christ was a great passion of Gus and Edna. He and his wife also served as guides for the blind for eleven years at Monadnock Bible Conference in Jaffrey, NH. In addition to his personal ministry, Gustav was a very generous supporter of many Christian missions and ministries. Gustav is survived by four children: Lillian Miller of Portsmouth, RI, Paul Rinas of Bristol, CT, Judy Welch of Atlanta, GA and Daniel Rinas of Middletown, MD. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren, twenty great- grandchildren and four great- great- grandchildren. His other surviving relatives include his two sisters-in law: Eleanor Rinas of Newington, CT and Esther Jabs of Corvallis, Oregon. In lieu of flowers, before his passing, Gustav requested that donations be made out to: Bible Study Ministries, PO Box 3666, Newport, RI 02840. A memorial service celebrating his life and death will be held at the Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home at 411 South Main Street, New Britain, CT 06051 on Saturday, March 9th at 4:00 PM.