Pedestrian struck, killed by pickup remembered as ‘unparalleled’ family member

The 79-year-old man who was struck and later died after being hit by a pickup truck last week was remembered as an “unparalleled husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, son, and friend.”

Henry Reents, the husband of former state Sen. Sue Reents, was identified by the Ada County Coroner’s Office on Tuesday as the man who was hit by a pickup truck at the intersection of West State and 11th streets, according to the coroner’s office and an obituary.

Henry and Sue Reents were married for over 55 years and had a “tender partnership,” according to the obituary.

Henry Reents, of Boise, was crossing State in the crosswalk of 11th on Jan. 23 when the southbound driver of a black pickup truck turned left from State and hit Reents, according to a previous news release from the Boise Police Department.

The unidentified driver remained at the scene, police said.

Reents was transported to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, where he died from “traumatic blunt force injuries” last Tuesday night, the coroner’s report said. The obituary said he died “peacefully” and was surrounded by his family.

The coroner’s office ruled Reents’ death an accident. Police said Tuesday that no charges had been filed against the driver. Boise police were still investigating.

Reents was born in Alameda, California, but spent most of his childhood in the paper mill town of Weed, California, four hours north of Alameda, according to the obituary. He met Sue Reents, — then Sue Bartron — at the University of Oregon, and they were married by 1967.

By 1969 they had moved to Boise. Henry Reents began working at Boise Cascade as an employee information systems manager, the obituary said, where he “helped shepherd in a number of innovations, including email, word processors and desktop computers.”

“He was a beloved manager and friend to countless colleagues,” the obituary said.

Reents also served on the boards of multiple nonprofits and was a member of the St. Michael’s Episcopal Cathedral.

“Henry brought creativity and careful competence to all his pursuits,” the obituary said. ”He was a master craftsman in his beloved workshop. No project was too mighty or too menial, from tackling home renovations to guiding kids in his family and the neighborhood with their own projects.”

Reporter Sally Krutzig contributed.