Tracy Lynn Hayenga, 49
Tracy Lynn Hayenga, our loving wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away unexpectedly on July 8, 2015.
Tracy was born in St. Maries, Idaho, on Sept. 24, 1965, to Donald J. Reinhardt and Beverly Ann Wood. She attended school in Harrison and graduated from Kootenai High School. She went on to college at NIC where she earned an associate's degree in child development.
Tracy was a loving babysitter and teacher to many area children, and will be greatly missed by all.
Tracy enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and watching them play tee ball and soccer. She also enjoyed bowling, but loved the after-bowling ice cream. She liked going to and having garage sales, and the occasional trip to play bingo.
Mom was always interested in others and how to help them out. She would put aside her own problems to find a way to help with her friends and family. She continued to raise all of her children and grandchildren through our daily needs and dramas. She was the one to go to when we needed a problem solved and would listen, laugh, love and just be there for you.
Mom loved to give. She always gave glow sticks out on the Fourth of July to strangers at the park, and gloves to children during the Christmas parade. She was so selfless and always willing to help with whatever problem you had.
Being a friend can mean many things. If ever there was someone who exceeded any definition of the word, Tracy did just that! Selfless acts of giving, a friendly voice when you needed it most, or a simple text saying "hope it goes okay today" or "thinking about you."
Tracy not only gave of herself to friends and family, but also to the community. From the countless lives she touched in her preschool to all her volunteering. NEVER have I encountered, nor will I ever again find, someone as special as Tracy! She will be greatly missed and the laughs will be treasured always. She was the most unselfish and giving person.
Tracy was preceded in death by her brother, Wally Dean Reinhardt.
Tracy is survived by her husband of 31 years, Gary Hayenga; daughters Alisha (Tony) Simonsen and Cassandra Hayenga, sons Jon Hayenga and Tony Hayenga, all of Coeur d'Alene; grandchildren Tyler Simonsen (age 7) and Megan Simonsen (age 5). She is also survived by her parents, Don and Bev Reinhardt; sisters Patty (Dick) Fields and Cyndi (John) Pankratz, brothers Mike (Patty) Reinhardt, Ron Reinhardt and Ken Reinhardt; father and mother-in- law Kay Holman, and Gary and Micki Hayenga; sister and brother-in-law Michele and Nick Scmidtt, Tracy Brayton and Richard Hayenga; and numerous aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces.
A beautiful person taken from this earth too soon. Heaven gets a new Angel!
A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 17, at Bell Tower Funeral Home, 3398 E. Jenalan Ave., Post Falls. You may share your thoughts and memories of Tracy on her online memorial at www.belltowerfuneralhome.com.