Ella Renk

Ella V. Renk
1920-2012

Ella V. Renk
A Memorial service for Ella V. Renk, age 91, of Overland Park, KS will be held on Wednesday, June 27 at 7:00 pm at New Haven Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 8714 Antioch Road, Overland Park, KS 66212. Private interment in Leavenworth National Cemetery. Ella passed away on Saturday, June 23, 2012 at Garden Terrace at Overland Park.
Ella Verna Schlenker was born on October 9, 1920 in Goodrich, North Dakota. She was the second child of 9 born to Abraham Schlenker and Emma Kreiter. Ella was a very shy child. When it came time to start school, she was too afraid to go so her parents waited to send her. At age 7, she started school with her cousin. Ella's first grade teacher had quite a job that year. All of the first graders had been raised speaking German so that school year was spent teaching English to the children. Ella learned about hard work from an early age. Growing up on a farm she had many chores plus helping care for her younger siblings.
Ella graduated from Goodrich High School in 1939. In the fall, her parents put her on a bus to Lincoln, Nebraska so she could attend Union College. To earn the money needed for college, Ella worked in the college kitchen. Between working many hours and studying, Ella was "all done in" as she would say, after 2 years of college. Ella returned to North Dakota and worked at a hospital as a nurse's aid and various jobs.
According to Ella, she met her future husband at a church Youth Rally. At the time, she was dating someone else but she found out that he was two timing her and she broke up with him. Soon after that, John Renk "appeared on the scene again" and they started dating regularly. In February 1943, John proposed to Ella and she accepted. They never set a wedding date, but they knew it would happen sometime. On July 11, 1943 they were married in Killdeer, North Dakota. John and Ella lived on a farm in Golden Valley, North Dakota for about 4 years, then they bought a farm in Goodrich, North Dakota where they lived for 33 years. Two brothers married two sisters and they farmed together for many years. Farm life was difficult. Ella milked cows, drove the truck, went for parts when equipment broke, mowed lawn, grew a big garden, canned, cooked, made all of the family's clothes and raised 4 children. She was a true farmer's wife. When her children were young, she taught Sabbath School in the Children's Divisions even making her own felts to tell Bible stories with.
Ella's mother passed away in 1951. Her father was terribly depressed and lonely so he remarried a few months later. Ella's youngest sister, Donna was 10 years old at the time of her mother's death. To help out, Ella and John took Donna into their home and raised her.
In 1980, it was time to retire from farming. Ella and John moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where they lived for 19 years. She was a member of the College View Seventh Day Adventist Church. During those years, Ella renewed a love for drawing. Ella said she was always doodling and drawing on paper. She signed up to take painting classes and became so good that she taught her grandson, Joshua about drawing and painting. They spent many hours sitting side by side drawing. Ella made quilts and enjoyed making crafts too. Traveling was another source of enjoyment for Ella. She and John traveled to Germany to sightsee and visit some of John's relatives. They went on many bus tours traveling to many places in the United States. One of her favorite past times was traveling with their camper. Two 6 week trips to Alaska were among her favorite trips.
In 1999, Ella and John made the decision to sell their duplex and chose to move to Kansas City. Both of them were having increasing health issues and being close to Norman and Sharon made sense since they are both nurses. They lived in an apartment 3 minutes from Norman and Sharon for 8 years. They were able to remain fairly independent and Ella continued making Kuchen, Plaschinda and Cinnamon Rolls for special occasions much to the delight of her children and grandchildren. She was a member of the New Haven Seventh Day Adventist Church and attended the Friendship Sabbath School Class regularly.
In 2008, Ella and John's health declined to the point where they moved to Shawnee Heartland Assisted Living. Norman and Sharon continued to supervise their medical care, but they also had around the clock staff available to assist with their care.
In the spring of 2012, Ella's health declined more. She had several falls from her wheelchair. Her physical condition and mental confusion made it necessary for her to be moved to a nursing home in June 2012.
Ella passed away on June 23, 2012 at Garden Terrace at Overland Park.
Ella is survived by her husband of 68 years, John Renk, 4 children – Ron and Gloria Renk of Denver, Colorado, Irlys and John White of Harrah, Oklahoma, Norman and Sharon Renk of Olathe, Kansas and Kimber and Joanie Renk of Bellevue, Nebraska. Ella has 10 living grandchildren, Jonathan Renk, Jessica Renk, Eric (Kim) White, Bradly (Tana) White, Jason White, Joshua (Liza) Renk, Kristin Renk, Jared Renk, Justin Renk and Kameron Renk, 1 great grand daughter, Katie White and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by 1 brother Clarence Schlenker and 3 sisters Florence Christensen, June Opp and Donna Deurmier. She was preceeded in death by her parents, Abraham and Emma Schlenker, brothers Gordon Schlenker and Myron Schlenker, sister Helen Renk, daughter in law Nancy Renk and grandson Jeremy Renk.
Ella was a wife, mother, mother in law, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend who will be greatly missed.
Memorials are suggested in care of Norman and Sharon Renk for a fund that will be established in Ella's memory at New Haven Seventh-Day Adventist Church.