Michael R. Rinard Sr. passed away unexpectedly Saturday, April 7, 2018, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston.
Mike was born March 12, 1948, in Boise, to Albert and Violet (Carlson) Rinard. The family moved to the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley in 1953 when his father started his own optical laboratory. Mike recently joked that he had been an optician for 68 of his 70 years, as he had learned to grind lenses alongside his father before he was school-aged.
Mike attended schools in Clarkston, where he excelled and lettered in three sports. He played Lewiston Legion baseball for two years, as the pitcher when the team went to the World Series in 1966. He graduated from Clarkston High School in 1966 and went on to play college baseball for Lewis-Clark State College before transferring and graduating with a bachelor's degree in management from the University of Idaho. He then returned to the valley and entered into a business partnership with his father in the family optical business.
Mike married Andrea Meredith in 1972. Together they had two sons. The marriage later ended in divorce.
After the death of his father, Mike continued to carry on Rinard Optical Laboratory, expanding to also own and manage The Optical Shop in Lewiston, The Spectacle in Moscow, Michael's Optical in Coeur d'Alene and Precision Optics in the Boise area.
Mike was an avid golfer in those days, and at one time held a 1 handicap. In 1991, Mike remarried to Carol Lacey, and learned quickly that his new wife was not the country club type, and being from Peck, it was all about hunting and fishing. Mike set his golf clubs aside, never to be seen again. His new brother-in-law handed him a Remington 870 TC and it started; he was destined to be an avid and accomplished trapshooter. Mike later combined his passion for trapshooting and his knowledge of the optical business, thus beginning Post 4 Optics. He manufactured and sold shooting glasses all around the world.
Mike's shooting accomplishments were many. Some of his highlights included making the All American in 2015, 2016 and 2018, along with the Idaho State Hall of Fame Induction in 2016, and the 2017 Idaho State Handicap Championship. He was very fortunate to be able to travel across the U.S.A. competing in shoots, promoting Post 4 Optics, mentoring and sponsoring upcoming junior shooters, and making lifelong friendships along the way.
Mike is survived by his wife, Carol Ann Rinard; his children, Michael R. (Jeannie) Rinard Jr., Chandra (Bob) Lundeberg and Douglas J. (Jarry) Rinard; his grandchildren, Michael and Nick Rinard, Brendan, Kailee and Caden Lanman; one great-granddaughter, Emery Lanman; his half-sister, Ann Fuqua; brother Larry Rinard; and great-nephew and trapshooting partner, Michael Lacey.
A graveside service will be held at a later date for family and close friends at Weseman Cemetery along the route to Mike's cabin, where he spent countless days with his family hunting, fishing and riding. As his great-nephew has stated, "Mike was admired by many and will be missed by more ... break a pair."
