Rens, William "Bill" T. 1920-2007

RENS, HUISMAN, WILLEMSTYN

Posted By: Mary Lou Verburg Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/17/2015 at 17:38:43

Born: April 18, 1920 Rural Orange City, Iowa
Died: October 31, 2007 Orange City, Iowa

William "Bill" T. Rens, 87 of Orange City died Wed. Oct. 31 at the Orange City Area Health System Hospital.

A memorial service was Sat. at 11 a.m/ at Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Orange City, with Rev. David Heilman officiating. Interment was prior to the service at West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City.

Rens was born on April 18, 1920 in rural Orange City, the son of Tim J. and Elizabeth (Huisman) Rens. He was raised on a farm between Orange City and Sioux Center. He then served in the United States Army during World War II.

On Oct. 19, 1945, he married Jacoba Willemstyn in Grand Rapids, MI. They farmed at Orange City until 1949, when they moved to town. He was then a mechanic at Orange City Implement for about 20 years and at Northwest Implement in Orange City for about a year. He then transferred to the Farmers Cooperative Oil Station and in semi-retirement worked part-times at the Coast to Coast store both in Orange City.

He was a member of Calvary Christian Reformed Church, where he served on the consistory as a deacon. He was also a 60 year member of the Pressman-Kosters American Legion Post of Orange City, serving as commander, as sergeant of arms, and as a member of color guards at community events for 55 years. He enjoyed fishing and hunting and liked spending time with his family, especially the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife of just over 62 years, "Coba"; a son, Don William Rens, of Apple Valley, MN; two daughters and their husbands, Wendy and Bill Foreman of Orange City and Jane and Scot Jacobson of Glendale, AZ; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and three sisters and two brothers, Hermina Borgman of Orange City, John Rens and his wife Gertrude of Artesia CA, Helene and her husband Vernon Jasper of Seal Beach, CA, Gerald "Bing" Rens and his wife Audrey of Escondido, CA, and Lois and her husband Virgil De Vries of Lakewood, Ca.

He was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Arlys Rens; and a granddaughter.

Memorials may be directed to the Orange City Area Health System, Orange City Christian School or Unity Christian High School in Orange City.

Source: Local paper after 10/31/2007