Reinhard Hecht was born on December 12, 1953, in Freudenstadt, Germany. In the early 1970s, he traveled to the United States to visit his great aunt and uncle, Liesel and Ernst Hecht. That first visit, followed by subsequent summer trips, sparked a deep connection to the country. Drawn by opportunity and the people he met along the way, Reinhard immigrated to the United States in 1976. In 1978, he married Cheryl Munsterman, starting a life together that grew through love, faith, and shared purpose.Reinhard built a successful professional career in the United States working with automotive soundproofing suppliers based in Germany. Through his work, he played a key role in establishing company branches in both the United States and Mexico. His career took him around the world, allowing him to meet people from many cultures and made many friends along the way. Reinhard never met a stranger and possessed a remarkable gift for connecting with anyone he encountered.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Reinhard was deeply inspired by the mission work of the New Apostolic Church. This calling led him to serve as a missionary in Tanzania, the Caribbean, and throughout the United States. He was entrusted with the care of congregations in Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom. While Reinhard worked closely with many congregations, he held a special passion for ministering to young people, leaving a lasting and meaningful impact on countless young lives.
During his years in the United States, Reinhard proudly pursued the American dream, becoming an entrepreneur and later a United States citizen—an achievement that brought him great joy. After retiring, he embraced a slower pace of life and discovered a deep love for cooking, especially traditional German dishes. He became well known among family and friends for his famous Wurstsalad and German potato salad, meals he delighted in preparing and sharing with others. Traveling and spending time with his grandchildren was also a great joy in his retirement. He was always up for an adventure with the six of them.
Reinhard was a wonderful husband to his beloved wife, Cheryl; a super father to his three children, Michelle Lindstedt (Joshua), Danielle Stonebraker (Blake), and David Hecht (Brookie); and a joyful “Grampy” to his grandchildren, Henry, Graham, Audrey, Kate, Claire, and Emory. He was also a dedicated brother to his sister, Bärbel Guenther, who resides in Germany.
Reinhard Hecht’s life was one of faith, service, love, and connection. His legacy lives on in the many lives he touched around the world and in the hearts of all who loved him.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at Unity Presbyterian Church; 8210 Unity Church Road Denver, NC 28037 from 11:30AM to 12:30 PM. A Celebration of Life Service will follow beginning at 1:00PM. A time of fellowship will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Reinhard’s memory may be made to NAC USA Youth at the following link: NAC USA Youth In-Memory Donation
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