May 30, 2023 4:12 PM

In service of others

Posted May 30, 2023 4:12 PM
<b>Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast Chairman George Rinker has donated countless hours to community service. Photo/William Smith</b>
Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast Chairman George Rinker has donated countless hours to community service. Photo/William Smith

By William Smith

George Rinker has dedicated his entire life to serving others.

For the past 15 years, area residents have known Rinker as the face of the annual Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast. They also might have purchased a car from him at Deery Brothers, where he has worked as a salesman for 30 years.

Before that, Rinker retired from a 20-year career in law enforcement, capped off by an eight-year stint as the West Burlington police chief. He upheld the law and sold cars during his past few years in law enforcement, working upwards of 90 hours a week.

“There’s a lot of similarities between police work and selling cars,” Rinker said. “You have to be able to listen to people and try to get a perspective on what they want to tell you and understand it. Then help the situation.”

Of course, there are some prime differences that Rinker has come to appreciate more as he gets older.

“I don’t get called out in the middle of the night for some criminal action or some disaster,” Rinker said. “When people leave my desk here (at Deery Bros.), they’re pretty happy. When I was police chief, that didn’t happen a lot.”

Rinker wanted to be a cop from an early age, participating in a Boy Scout explorer post in high school that gave him hands-on experience with law enforcement. 

A Burlington native and Burlington High School graduate, Rinker began his career at the Burlington Police Department almost immediately.

Heart-breaking first day

His first day was devastating — far rougher than a typical rookie officer.

“I started on Sept. 16, 1974, and I was to report in at 2:30 p.m. in the afternoon for the second shift,” Rinker said.

Rinker had an argument with his father shortly before leaving the house for work and was irritated. He responded to his first call 45 minutes later. The address was his house.

Rinker’s father had died of a heart attack. The story made local headlines. It wasn’t easy, but Rinker is glad that he was the one who responded.

“I always thought that was an omen. That I was doing what I’m supposed to be doing,” Rinker said.

Santa George

Rinker claims he doesn’t have time for hobbies. But then he starts talking about his work with the Kiwanis Club and his desire to help children.

Then there is his Santa gig. Every year, Rinker dons his Santa Claus costume, giving gifts to local families. 

He even rides in the annual Holiday Parade as Santa, waving from the back of a massive sleigh.

“I guess that would be my other hobby,” he said.

Rinker first portrayed Santa Claus on Christmas Eve in 1981, handing out presents to families before rushing back to his reindeer-driven sleigh.

“I have a family here in town that I have done presents for, I’m gonna say at least 20 years. And when I started doing it, they had 6 to 10 kids. And there were little boys in their suits and bow ties. The girls were in their princess dresses, and they would sing carols.”

Since then, those kids have become adults and had their own kids. Rinker has handed them presents, too.

This year, Rinker will be giving presents to the grandchildren of the kids he first dressed up as Santa for in 1981.

“It’s a big deal to me, and it’s a big deal to them,” he said. “I love doing that. Because there’s nothing better than seeing the smiles on kids’ faces. It’s just a great joy to me.”

“Hello, my name 

is George”

Rinker realizes the community is already familiar with the good deeds of the Kiwanis Club. The organization is 100 members strong, and celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

But what many don’t realize, outside of the membership, is the strong camaraderie that exists between the members. Aside from the free lunch, the weekly meetings feature skits, guest speakers, and plenty of laughter.

“It’s a refuge from everyday work life,” Rinker said.

As a longtime leader in the organization, Rinker is usually behind the podium at the meetings, updating members on finances, and future plans between jokes. He is a constant fixture, which becomes somewhat of an in-joke in the club.

“Hello, my name is George,” Rinker says every time he takes the podium.

“Hi George,” the members always respond, wearing grins.

The Kiwanis Club has always donated its fundraising dollars to helping area children, spending quite a few years focusing on funding new playgrounds.

On June 1, the club will vote on a measure to donate $75,000 to the Dankwardt Playground Project. Rinker has been pushing hard for it, talking about how his late disabled son never got to experience a playground.

“This will be a legacy for our children,” Rinker said.