John Robert Rinn

On Oct. 20, 2024, John Robert Rinn passed over from life on this earth into life in realms beyond this limited dimension— the next journey into the magnificent adventure of having been created in the image of the Creator of All That Is.

John was born Jan. 17, 1943, in Temple, to Ernest and Pearl (Harriss) Rinn. He lived most of his life in Rockdale.

At his request, his mortal remains will be cremated and his ashes spread in the Rockies of Southern Colorado by beloved family members. These beautiful mountains provided one of his very favorite places to enjoy spending time for leisure and renewal, so he and his family felt that this was the most appropriate way for rendering his remains back to the Earth.

Also, at John’s request, there will be no memorial services. He requested only that his family and friends enjoy their remembrances of the good times spent with each other, in the pleasure of one another’s company, recalling stories of past experiences, pleasant family times, and those great times of life and laughter together with fondest recollections.

He mostly wanted all family and friends who share life and love together to continue in the celebrations of their own lives to the fullest without sadness and with smiles rather than tears. John generally favored this as being the very best way to celebrate memories of his own life.

He was extraordinarily blessed with loving and caring parents, who did their very best to provide every advantage possible to him as a child—and they did so successfully. Their discipline was consistent and strict but never harsh. They provided sound guidelines for living with integrity and compassion.

They taught well and, most of all, lived by good example to the very best of their ability. Most importantly, they demonstrated how to raise a child in a loving family atmosphere.

As in all families, there were, of course, some difficulties, but his parents always proved that love was the best measure in every circumstance.

John learned principles of honor and respect, along with important guidelines for always striving to do the right and honorable things in all situations.

Attempting to live up to those principles provided more than ample challenge. John often acknowledged that there were many instances of shortcomings in trying to live up to those standards.

At the same time, he also recognized that all we can do is the best we can do. Ernest and Pearl Rinn did the absolute best they could do to live by good example and to set the path straight for their son. John did the best he was able in following their example. He was grateful for being blessed with such wonderful family upbringing.

The greatest blessings in John’s life arrived through experiences shared together with his four wonderful children (born to and parented together by John and Donnie) and five phenomenal grandchildren. He also has two fine step-grandchildren with whom he was prevented from spending as much time as he would have liked, due to limited time afforded due to restrictions of geographical proximity.

At the top of his litany of favorite preoccupations was spending time with his beautiful and loving family and with great friends, telling stories and laughing together. Space does not nearly allow words to adequately describe these remarkable indulgences, but he fully recognized that all the money on earth could not buy anything close to the value of blessings and love found in these precious gifts.

He also cherished spending time in the great outdoors, loved music and singing (though self-admittedly lacking in musical skills), enjoyed woodworking, reading and researching but, most of all, just simply relished the wonderful company of good people.

John is sur vived by daughters Jenny Rinn and partner Damon Allswang (San Francisco, California), Julie Kate Campbell and husband Trey Campbell (New Braunfels), sons Lee Rinn and wife Jennifer Rinn (College Station), and Paul Rinn and husband Stuart Bone (Austin), and by his grandchildren Courtney Campbell, Aubrey Campbell, Ty Campbell, Jake Rinn, Chloe Rinn, and step-grandchildren Sam Kelley and Isabel Kelley.

John adored the wonderful times spent with his precious family, special times enjoyed in those amazing years of their childhood and adolescence. He is extraordinarily proud of and grateful for the marvelously successful human beings they have all become as they have matured and continue to thrive in their one lives as the river of time courses on.