Thomas Van Rainer, Jr.

Funeral services with Masonic rites for Thomas Van Rainer, Jr., 82, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 22, 2018 at Rose-Neath Southside Chapel with Rev. Bob Moore officiating assisted by Dr. Murray Hodge. Interment with military honors will follow at 12:00 p.m. in NW LA Veterans Cemetery in Keithville, LA. Visitation will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, January 21, 2018 at the funeral home. Tom was born January 23, 1935 in Akron, OH to Thomas Van Rainer, Sr. and Emily Tarver Rainer and passed away on January 15, 2018 in Shreveport. Tom proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a member of Western Star #24 F&AM Masonic Lodge since 1961. He started singing as a child in The Teenage Quartet. His professional gospel singing career began when he was 17 with The Revelaires and went on to sing with the Deep South Singers Quartet, Homeland Harmony Quartet, and the Statesmen Quartet. During his gospel career, he was known at that time as having one of the finest lead vocals in gospel music. Later in life he sang with the local quartet, Southern Heritage. His business career started with Dial Finance Company. He went on to banking and retired from Hibernia Bank in 2000. He continued to work at Rose-Neath Southside until his death. Tom was the best husband and father and a truly good man who loved God and his family. He will be greatly missed by family and friends. Tom was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Jean Moran; and son, Mark Hayes. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Sandy Rainer; children, Mike Rainer and wife Jennifer, Sheri Voelkel and husband Doyle, Wayne Horne, and Melody Burgess and husband Ronnie; 13 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren. Honoring Tom as pallbearers will be his grandsons, Justin Parker, Colby Voelkel, Todd Voelkel, Garrett Voelkel, Ben Rainer, and Kyle Locke. Honorary pallbearers will be Shaye Burgess, Michael Rainer, Ethan Rainer, Wayne Tidwell, and Ray Gammill.