RENKEN, Kenneth Erwin

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Monday, May 10, 2010 Kenneth Erwin Renken, 83, died May 6, 2010, at Kindred Hospital in Peoria, Ariz., following a brief illness. He was born and raised in Le Mars, Iowa. He leaves his wife of 36 years, Rose Mary Renken; sons, Larry (Kathy) Renken, Jeff (Joanne) Renken, James (Stacey) Renken, Jon (Lisa) Renken; daughter Lisa (Chuck) Gonzales; stepchildren, Sue Gemmill, Chuck Gonzales and Annette Jackson; 14 grandchildren and five great grandchildren; siblings, Herbert (Elnora) Renken, Vernon (Fran) Renken, Ramona (Robert) Lang and Gene (Barbara) Renken. He was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Marie Renken. Ken spent his early years on the family farm and entered the Army on Jan. 22, 1946. After his honorable discharge, he returned to farming. He married Beverly Schuette in 1948. In 1955, he started selling insurance in Algona, Iowa. By 1960, he had moved the family to Sioux City, Iowa and was working for Sears. In 1964, Ken and Beverly divorced and by the late 1960s, he had started selling land in Prescott Valley, Ariz. He moved to Prescott Valley full time in 1972 where he met and married Rose Mary Gonzales. Ken loved living in Prescott Valley and was very active in the community. In 1977, he and a group of residents formed the committee that led to the incorporation of Prescott Valley. He was a member of the first appointed town council in 1978. Also in 1977, he was asked to be a member of the Yavapai County Industrial Development Authority which approves and issues proper bonding for projects in the county including Yavapai Regional Medical Center (East and West Campuses), Embry-Riddle University, Tim's Toyota Center and many others. Prior to his passing, Ken was the only original member still active and was serving as the Chairman. In 2004, he was given the Heritage Award by the Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce as someone instrumental in the founding and organization of Prescott Valley. Ken had a passion for baseball and was an avid Diamondbacks fan. He loved gardening and especially growing roses for his wife. He will be missed by family and friends. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, May 15, 2010 at the VA Chapel, 500 Highway 89 N, Prescott, Ariz. Information provided by survivors.