Jesse Lee Rinsch

Jesse Lee Rinsch, age 37, of Lawrenceville, Illinois passed away at his residence on Saturday, October 24, 2026. He was born on March 28, 1989 in Vincennes, Indiana, the son of Jerry and Michelle Walls Rinsch.

Jesse began his working career while still in high school at Leggitt Lumber. After graduating from Lawrenceville High School in 2008, he worked for LC Neely Drilling, Inc., G&E Pipe Testing, and Rinsch Farms.

Jesse was a hard worker with a heart of gold who was always willing to lend a helping hand without expecting anything in return. He was affectionately known by some as “Smilin’ Jess” because of his familiar grin that always seemed to suggest he was up to something. Jesse was quiet until he got to know someone, at which point he always had plenty to say. More recently, he enjoyed watching videos of Cletus McFarland’s racing adventures and following several family farms. He especially enjoyed sharing recaps of their accomplishments and offering ideas that might be useful on the Rinsch farm.

Jesse’s first vehicle was a 1990 GMC truck, which he later used to compete in local truck pulls and flat-track dirt drags. Although he won several events at the dirt drags, he never let a loss discourage him. Instead, he focused on ways to improve and build up his truck. He enjoyed all types of motorsports, especially NASCAR and NHRA. Some of his favorite times were spent with family camping, fishing, boating, attending tractor and car shows, and watching tractor and truck pulls.

His niece, Adeline, held a special place in Jesse’s heart. Before she was even born, he used his woodworking skills to restore his great-grandfather Riker’s wooden cradle for her. For her first Christmas, Jesse took a tree from the fence row that had been cleared at the family home, milled it into boards, and built her a bookshelf and toy box. These thoughtful gifts reflected his craftsmanship, generosity, and the special love he had for his niece.

Preceding Jesse in death were his grandfathers, Ralph Rinsch and Randle Walls.

Survivors include his parents, Jerry and Michelle; his brother, Dakota Rinsch of Flat Rock, Illinois; niece, Adeline Rinsch of Sumner, Illinois; grandmothers, Josephine Rinsch and Lynda Walls; uncles and aunts, Gary and Amy Rinsch of Flat Rock, Illinois, Johnny and Tina Rinsch of Flat Rock, Illinois, Rita and Shawn Brothers of Princeton, Indiana, Sheila and Mark Tewell of Lawrenceville, Illinois; cousins, Brandon and Ashley Rinsch of Flat Rock, Illinois, Cody and Jayla Rinsch of Bridgeport, Illinois, Blake and Courtney Rinsch, Dillon and Maddy Rinsch of Flat Rock, Illinois, Wyatt Rinsch of Flat Rock, Illinois, Meghan and Noah Daugherty of Flat Rock, Illinois, Britany Walls, Tyler and Devinne Tewell, Amber Tewell, and Shelby Casey.

Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, October 30, 2026, 1:00 p.m. at Emmons-Macey and Steffey Funeral Home in Lawrenceville, Illinois. Visitation will be 11:00 a.m. till the service hour of 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Otterbein Cemetery.