Renken, John Wilfred 1930-2005

RENKEN, ANTONES, KERNS, HALBERG, HOLT, BARTH

Posted By: Debbie Nash - Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/24/2005 at 01:04:15

John Renken
May 23, 2005

John Wilfred Renken, 74, of Graymont, Ill., died at 11:50 p.m. Saturday, May 14, 2005, at his home.

The funeral was Wednesday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Flanagan, with the Rev. Heidi Punt officiating. Burial was in Minonk Township Cemetery in Minonk, Ill.

Memorials may be made to the Fourth Fighter Interceptor Wing, St. John's Lutheran Church or the after-school program for Easter/Advent at the church.

Mr. Renken was born Aug. 23, 1930, in Dana, Ill., the son of Will and Nona Antones Renken. He married Frances Kerns in Sioux City, March 4, 1954.

He attended country schools and graduated from Dana High School in 1949.

He was active at St. John's Lutheran Church in Flanagan, Ill., and was in charge of the Share Food program. He served numerous terms on the church council and was active in starting an after-school program.

He served in the U.S. Air Force. He was an aircraft mechanic in Korea from November 1951 to October 1953.

He was a member of the Flanagan American Legion 456 and the Minonk VFW Post 7185.

He retired from Graymont Co-op in 1996.

His hobbies included growing flowers, watching wildlife and traveling.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Michael D. Renken and wife Linda of Birmingham, Patrick Renken and wife Jeannie of Normal, Ill., and Shannon Renken of Piper City, Ill.; three sisters, Annabelle Halberg, Emily Holt and Marjorie Barth, all of Minonk; one brother, Roy Renken of Emden, Ill.; seven grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Victor and Joseph.

Courtesy of the Fairfield Daily Ledger Inc. 2005