Renken, Edith Arlene 1927-2012

RENKEN, BERKENPAS, DAMBRINK

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/19/2014 at 09:27:31

Edith Renken

Date of Death
Thursday, January 19, 2012

Le Mars, IA

Edith Renken, 84, of Le Mars passed away Thursday, January 19, 2012 at the Good Samaritan Society of Le Mars.

A Celebration of Life service will be at 7:00 p.m., Monday, January 23, 2012 at the Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars with Pastor Marcia Young, A.i.M. of St. John’s Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A. officiating. Interment will be at a later date at Christ Lutheran Cemetery, Grant Township, rural Le Mars. Visitation with the family present will be after 4:00 p.m. Monday, January 23, 2012 at the Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Siouxland or the American Cancer Society.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dicky Renken, Andrew Schlenger, Jacob Renken, Jeremiah Renken, Justin Shultz, and Davey Renken.

Edith Arlene Berkenpas July 21, 1927 on the family farm north of Seney, Iowa in Elgin Township to Jake and Bertha (Dambrink) Berkenpas. Edith was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith at Seney United Methodist Church in Seney, Iowa. She attended country school near Seney and later Le Mars Central High School. Edith was united in marriage to Walter J. Renken on September 20, 1945, by Reverend Bunge at the Christ Lutheran Church parsonage. Edith and Walt farmed together in Grant Township until retirement in 1987. They continued to live on the farm until 2003 when they moved to Le Mars. Edith was a past member of Christ Lutheran Church and a longtime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Le Mars.

Edith enjoyed going fishing with her grandchildren, woodworking, playing bingo, casino trips, and playing cards. She belonged to several pinochle groups throughout the years. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles. Edith enjoyed her grandchildren; especially baking cookies with them.

Survivors include her 4 children: Jerry Renken and his wife Shirley of Beresford, SD, Jimmy Renken and his wife Beverly of Alcester, SD, Patricia Majeres and her husband Brian of Le Mars, IA, and Karen Schlenger and her husband Tod of Spirit Lake, IA; 12 grandchildren: Danny (Trisha) Renken, Davey (Lora) Renken, Dicky Renken, Tim (Kim) Renken, Matthew (Lindsey) Renken, Angela Bernard, Jacob Renken, Jeremiah Renken, Michael (Janet) Shultz, Justin (Maria) Shultz, Travis (Mandi) Schlenger, and Andrew Schlenger; 15 great grandchildren: Isabella Renken, Katerina Renken, Nikita Renken, Hunter Shultz, Avery Shultz, Hannah Renken, Heidi Renken, Harbor Renken, Hazel Renken, Rachael Renken, Mariah Renken, Jayce Shultz, Mason Shultz, Dawson Sullivan, and Charles Bernard III; 3 step-grandchildren: Mallorie Minor, Donovan Minor, and Jadan Johnson; 2 sisters-in-law, Lillian Berkenpas of Le Mars and Marge Berkenpas of Las Vegas, NV; a brother-in-law, Merlin Singer of Le Mars; and several nieces and nephews.

Edith was preceded in death by her parents, Jake and Bertha (Dambrink) Berkenpas; her husband Walt Renken on June 25, 2005; 6 brothers: Leonard (Dolly) Berkenpas, Arthur (Charlene) Berkenpas, William Berkenpas, Raymond Berkenpas, Norman Berkenpas, and Henry (Anita) Berkenpas; 5 sisters: Lois Singer, Dorothy (Paul) Hoppe, Alice Jennings, Jean (Marion) Van Roekel, and Francis Leonard; in-laws: Herman (Everdena) Renken, Garieth (Etta) Renken, William (Hilda) Renken, and Ed (Luella) Hoppe; and a grandchild, Charles Bernard.

Carlsen Funeral Home
January 2012
Le Mars, Iowa