Jacob Rensberger 1912 - 2002

RENSBERGER, YODER, ROTH, VANNORTWICK, MILLER, STEWART, KING

Posted By: A.M.W. (email)
Date: 5/14/2006 at 01:21:52

Jacob Y. "Jake" Rensberger, 89, of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., formerly of Wayland, died of cancer Wednesday, March 13, 2002, at his home.

Born June 6, 1912, near Parnell, he was the son of Roy and Mamie Yoder Rensberger. He married Clara Alice Roth on April 18, 1937. She died Oct. 3, 1993. On July 7, 2000, he married Joyce VanNortwick of Whitehall, Mich.

Mr. Rensberger and his wife farmed in the Wellman area until 1948, when they moved to their farm near Wayland. After 14 years of wintering in New Smyrna Beach, they moved there permanently in 1991.

He was a member of Sugar Creek Mennonite Church, near Wayland, and attended First Baptist Church of New Smyrna Beach, where he was a member of the Agape Sunday school class and Young of Heart group. For many years, he volunteered at the church's Twice Blessed Resale Shop. He was a member of Coronado and Mainland Shuffleboard clubs and an officer of the Men's Garden Club in New Smyrna Beach, where he was instrumental in developing a partnership with New Smyrna Beach Middle School.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Margaret Alice Miller of Indianapolis, and Kathy Meck Stewart of New Smyrna Beach; one son, Donald Eugene Rensberger of Canandaigua, N.Y.; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two stepsons, Gary VanNortwick of Merrimack, N.H., and Rodney VanNortwick of Montague, Mich.; one stepdaughter, Jolene King of Montague; eight step-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; one sister, Virginia Roth of Kalona; one sister-in-law; and one brother-in-law.

Besides his first wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and two sisters.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Yoder Powell Funeral Home in Kalona and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at Sugar Creek Mennonite Church. The funeral for Mr. Rensberger will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Roger Farmer officiating. Burial will be in Sugar Creek Cemetery. A memorial has been established for his church.