Renken, Dennis Raymond 1945-2017

RENKEN, BRUNKEN, RUDEN

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/7/2017 at 11:36:36

Dennis Raymond Renken

January 04, 1945 - May 06, 2017

Dennis “Denny” Renken, 72, of Polk City, Iowa, formerly of Le Mars, Iowa passed away Saturday, May 6, 2017 at the VA Central Iowa Healthcare System Community Living Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Memorial Service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 20, 2017 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Craig, Iowa. Reverend Lil Johnston will officiate. Military honors will be conducted by the Heeren-McHale-Wilken American Legion Post 724 of Brunsville, Iowa. Visitation with the family present will be after 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 19, 2017 with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m., all at the church. Visitation will resume from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Saturday at the church. Inurnment will be in the Iowa Veteran’s Cemetery in Adel, Iowa on Monday, May 22, at 11:00 a.m. Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars, Iowa. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.

Dennis Raymond Renken was born January 4, 1945 in Le Mars, Iowa, the son of Raymond and Esther (Brunken) Renken.

Denny attended school at Le Mars Community High School, Class of 1963.

He volunteered for the National Guard in 1965. He was called up for active duty in 1968, was stationed in the Mekong Delta in 1969, and was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge and Bronze Star for his service.

He was united in marriage to Helen Ann Ruden on April 23, 1968 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Struble, Iowa. They made their home on an acreage in Plymouth County, Iowa where he farmed. After retiring, they moved to Le Mars. Later, Dennis and Helen moved to Polk City, Iowa to be closer to their family. Helen passed away July 11, 2016 in Polk City.

He was a 60 year member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Craig and was a Sunday school teacher for many years. He was also a member of the Heeren-McHale-Wilken American Legion Post 724 of Brunsville, where he held the office of Commander from 1976 – 1977 and served as Chaplain for several years before moving to Polk City in 2015. He also was a member of the Honor Guard and served in that capacity for many funerals.

Denny’s hobbies include watching baseball (he loved the Twins), teaching Sunday School and helping with a youth group at Hope Lutheran Church in Grimes IA. He also enjoyed playing cards with friends, and vacationing with family.

Survivors include his children: Deborah (Bryan) Freund of Urbandale, IA, Matthew (Marissa) Renken of Polk City, IA, and Jennifer (Griff) Hoffmann of West Des Moines, IA; his grandchildren: Chase Freund, Logan Freund, Hunter Stevens, Brennan Harrelson, and Morgan Renken; his siblings: David (Judy) Renken and Shirley (Bill) Ruhland all of Le Mars, IA, and Mary Miles of Dell Rapids, SD; his mother-in-law: Lorraine Ruden of Le Mars, IA; his in-laws: Bev Paulin of Minot, ND, Larry (Sharon) Ruden, Gary (Kathy) Ruden, and Robert (Kay) Ruden all of Le Mars, IA, Herb Ruden of Estherville, IA, and Phil (Linda) Ruden of Omaha, NE; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Renken; his parents, Ray and Esther Renken; his father-in-law, Ray Ruden; his brothers-in-law, Hank Schmidt, Larry Miles, Donnie Ney; his sisters-in-law, Bonnie Ney, Joanie Ney, Linda Ruden.

Rexwinkel Funeral Home
Le Mars, Iowa