Reynaldo Valentin

Reynaldo  “Rey” Valentin Obituary

 Reynaldo “Rey” Valentín, age 82 of Clear Lake, WI passed away unexpectedly on March 12, 2026 in Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico after a long life defined by faith, service, and an unshakeable trust in God’s guidance.  A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and believer, Rey lived every chapter of his journey with the conviction that he was never walking alone.

Born in a small town in Puerto Rico on September 14, 1943, Rey spent his early years soaked in the sun and the company of his parents and five siblings. As a teenager, he moved with his family to Chicago—a city where much of his extended family remains today. It was there that he met Sharon Johnson, the woman who would stand by his side for the next 5 decades.  While Sharon was in nursing school in Downers Grove, IL, Rey was called to serve in the US armed foces from 1968-1972. He spent 15 months as a medic in Vietnam, returning in 1970 to marry Sharon in a ceremony that marked the beginning of their lifelong partnership. The couple eventually settled in Clear Lake, where they spent 50 years building a home rooted in the Seventh-day Adventist faith and the belief that God walks with His children through every season.

A proud veteran, Rey often spoke of how God’s hand guided his own, especially during the war. He frequently shared the story of performing surgeries on fellow soldiers—moments where he felt his own abilities were insufficient, yet his hands moved with a precision that wasn't his own. “My hands were moving on their own,” he would say, a testament to his belief in stepping into the impossible with courage.

Rey was a storyteller at heart. To him, memories weren’t just anecdotes; they were testimonies. Whether it was a spiritual   revelation or the time he drove across the country in his 2007 Toyota Camry to "surprise" his family at 4:00 a.m., Rey’s life was an open book of God’s providence.

In his later years, Rey found renewed community and companionship within the Seventh-day Adventist Hispanic congregation in Rice Lake, WI. It was there he met Luci; the two were married in 2024, and she survives him.

One of the family’s most treasured recent memories is Rey’s 80th birthday trip to Puerto Rico. Though his pace had slowed, he was perfectly content sitting in the sand with a fruity drink, soaking in the Caribbean warmth.  While his final years brought the challenges of fading clarity and independence, his family chooses to remember the Rey who was whole: the father who provided a sanctuary for his children, the uncle ready with a tease, the friend who loved perhaps too deeply, and the believer who carried his faith like a flame he was eager to pass on.   Rey, we are going to miss you. We love you. May you rest now in the peace you so richly deserve.

A son of God who was always at the service of our Heavenly Father, possessing a great missionary

spirit and faith—qualities that stand as a powerful testimony to each one of us.

He leaves us an enduring example through his service to his fellow human beings, without distinction of race,

nation, or religion.   "And with the certainty that we will see each other when Christ comes... Amen."

Rey was preceded in death by his cherished wife, Sharon.

He is survived by his wife, Luci;  three children, Angie, Benjamin, and Aaron, and his four grandchildren: Hugo, Nils, Aaleyah, and Scout. His grandchildren were his greatest joy; he was always ready with a story or his signature playful “guchiee guchiee gue.” He also leaves behind  siblings, Maria, Olga, Gladys, Emiliano & Joe, many nieces and nephews who will forever remember his warm welcome and gentle humor.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 am on Friday, March 27, 2026 at the Seventh-day Adventist church  in Clear Lake, WI. 

There will be a visitation at the church an hour before the service from 10 - 11am on Friday.

Clergy  -  Pastor Scott Manley    Music  -  Alice Garrett

Casket Bearers  -   Aaron Valentin, Benjamin Valentin, Emiliano Valentin,  Joe Valentin, Shawn Laursen, Shannon Laursen

Burial  will be in the Clear Lake Cemetery with Full Military Honors

Scheuermann Funeral Home and Cremation Services are handling the arrangements.

www.clearlakefuneralhome.com

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