KORENBERG, Rena (Van Gelder) 1916-2010

KORENBERG, VANGELDER, GEERTSMA, WORTH, KLINGENBERG, SIGLER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 11/3/2011 at 12:49:38

Rena Korenberg
Oct. 19, 1916 - Oct. 1, 2010

Service:
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
11:00 AM
Hartley Funeral Home

Rena Alyda (Van Gelder) Korenberg was born on October 19, 1916, on a farm near Doon, Iowa, to Reina (Geertsma) and Jacob Van Gelder. She spent her childhood years in the Rock Rapids, Iowa, area where she attended the local country school.

She was united in marriage to John Korenberg at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on May 31, 1935. They farmed for many years near Rock Rapids. After moving to Hartley in 1965, Rena and John purchased and operated the Iowan Motel. John passed away on December 20, 1990.

Rena continued to live at home in Hartley until entering the Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley in 2001.

While they were farming, Rena participated in the day to day chores on the farm, along with taking care of her home and her family. She stressed the importance of the 4-H program, and was actively involved in helping her children with their many projects. Until shortly before entering the nursing home, when it became physically impossible for her to do so.

Rena enjoyed planting and tending her large gardens. She canned most of the produce that she grew, and never wanted anything to go to waste. She loved to "fancy work" such as crocheting, and made certain that each family member had one of her afghans. She and John traveled extensively; something she continued to do even after his death.

She was very proud of her Dutch heritage, and collected numerous Delftware items.

Rena passed away at the Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley on October 1, 2010; just 2 1/2 weeks short of her 94th birthday.

Survivors include her four children and their families: Elizabeth "Bette" Worth and her husband, Bruce of Hartley, Roger Korenberg and his wife, Jerri of California, Missouri, Renee Crist and her husband, Roger of Hartley, and John Korenberg and his wife, Marci of Clear Lake, Iowa; eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren; two sisters, Fenna Klingenberg and Enna Sigler, and one sister-in-law, Ann Juffer.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; four sisters, Gertrude, Agnes, Tillie and Henrietta; a son-in-law, David Rensted, and a great-granddaughter, Desiree Crist.

Source: Hartley Funeral Home obit and Northwest Iowa Review of October 9, 2010.