Howard Willis Rentschler
February 26, 1917 — August 29, 2010
Howard Willis Rentschler, 93, of Delhi died peacefully at the Edgewood Convalescent Home, Sunday August 29, 2010. Funeral services: 2:00 pm, Friday, September 3, 2010 at the Delhi United Methodist Church conducted by Rev. Lorraine Hartman. Visitation will be 4:00 - 7:00 pm, Thursday, September 2, 2010 at Clifton-Murdoch Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Earlville and one hour prior to the service at the church in Delhi. Burial will be at the Evergreen Cemetery in Delhi.
Howard was born on a farm in Clayton County near Garber on February 26, 1917 to Rudolph and Mabel (Beeh) Rentschler. He graduated from Elkport High School in 1935. Howard was united in marriage to Marie Brown at the Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garber in 1939. The Couple farmed in the Garber and Colesburg area for the next thirteen years. In 1952 Howard and Marie purchased the Delhi Locker and Grocery and moved there with their two sons, Kirk and Owen. For the next 24 years Howard and Marie worked seven days a week to make their business successful. In 2006 they sold their home in Delhi and moved to Lincolnwood Assisted living in Edgewood. Howard moved to the Edgewood Convalescent Home in 2008.
Howard worked eighty hours a week at the locker but still found time to garden, fish, make his famous grape wine, and hunt mushrooms, squirrel, deer, and especially coon. Over the years he found time to serve on the Delhi School Board, be a member of the Delhi Volunteer Fire Department (1953-1984), be active in the Delhi Methodist Church, and serve thirteen years as Mayor or councilman for the Town of Delhi. In later years, Howard enjoyed traveling on bus trips with Marie and their friends, playing ball with his grandchildren, and getting visits from his great grandchildren. Howard will be remembered for his devotion to family, friends, and his community. His sharp wit, sense of humor, common sense, and friendly smile will be missed. Howard is survived by his two sons, Kirk (Jane) and Owen (Gloria); grandsons, Ryan (Nicole), Cody, Rick (Denise), and Jon; great grandchildren, McKenzie, Tait, and Cole, and brother-in-law Harlan Herkes.
Howard was preceded in death by his Parents (Rudolph and Mabel), Sisters (Una and Lois), sister-in-law (Jean) and his beloved wife of 70 years Marie.
A memorial fund has been established in Howard’s name. Proceeds from the fund will go to the Maquoketa Valley Dollars for Scholars, Camp Courageous, and the Delhi Volunteer fire department.
Please sign the online guest book for Howard at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Howard was born on a farm in Clayton County near Garber on February 26, 1917 to Rudolph and Mabel (Beeh) Rentschler. He graduated from Elkport High School in 1935. Howard was united in marriage to Marie Brown at the Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garber in 1939. The Couple farmed in the Garber and Colesburg area for the next thirteen years. In 1952 Howard and Marie purchased the Delhi Locker and Grocery and moved there with their two sons, Kirk and Owen. For the next 24 years Howard and Marie worked seven days a week to make their business successful. In 2006 they sold their home in Delhi and moved to Lincolnwood Assisted living in Edgewood. Howard moved to the Edgewood Convalescent Home in 2008.
Howard worked eighty hours a week at the locker but still found time to garden, fish, make his famous grape wine, and hunt mushrooms, squirrel, deer, and especially coon. Over the years he found time to serve on the Delhi School Board, be a member of the Delhi Volunteer Fire Department (1953-1984), be active in the Delhi Methodist Church, and serve thirteen years as Mayor or councilman for the Town of Delhi. In later years, Howard enjoyed traveling on bus trips with Marie and their friends, playing ball with his grandchildren, and getting visits from his great grandchildren. Howard will be remembered for his devotion to family, friends, and his community. His sharp wit, sense of humor, common sense, and friendly smile will be missed. Howard is survived by his two sons, Kirk (Jane) and Owen (Gloria); grandsons, Ryan (Nicole), Cody, Rick (Denise), and Jon; great grandchildren, McKenzie, Tait, and Cole, and brother-in-law Harlan Herkes.
Howard was preceded in death by his Parents (Rudolph and Mabel), Sisters (Una and Lois), sister-in-law (Jean) and his beloved wife of 70 years Marie.
A memorial fund has been established in Howard’s name. Proceeds from the fund will go to the Maquoketa Valley Dollars for Scholars, Camp Courageous, and the Delhi Volunteer fire department.
Please sign the online guest book for Howard at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Howard Willis Rentschler, please visit our flower store.