Wilbert L. Renken

Obituary

Wilbert Leonard Renken was born on April 22, 1934, in Arlington, Minnesota. He was the son of Charles and Malinda (Engelke) Renken. Wilbert was baptized as an infant and was later confirmed in his faith as a youth both at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Arlington. Wilbert received his education in Arlington.

On March 17, 1954, Wilbert enlisted with the United States Army in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He held the rank of Specialist 3rd Class (T). Wilbert was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He received an Honorable Release from Active Duty on March 15, 1957, in Fort Lewis, Washington.

On October 11, 1958, Wilbert was united in marriage to Darlene Dietel at St. Paul Evangelical Reformed Church in Hamburg. After their marriage, the couple resided on a farm north of Plato, Minnesota. They were blessed with four children: Curtis, Charlotte, Craig, and Corey. Wilbert and Darlene shared 66 years of marriage when Darlene passed away on June 16, 2025.

Wilbert farmed and drove truck for many years. In the mid-1990s, he retired from dairy farming and concentrated his time on trucking. In 2014, Wilbert decided it was time to retire from trucking at the age of 80 years old. Wilbert was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Plato, Minnesota. He was also a longtime member of the Plato American Legion.

He was a kind and gentle man. With his little “smirks” and genuine care, he always showed his family that he loved them. He was a man of few words, but when he did say something, you were left giggling or taking notice of what he shared with you. Wilbert loved to spend time outdoors, hunting and fishing. He enjoyed bowling for decades, up until he was in his 70s. He also loved playing cards and pull-tabs. When he wasn’t doing any of these activities, you could find him relaxing in his chair watching old westerns or sitting and enjoying a cup of coffee and cookies. He loved his wife and family fiercely, and spending time with family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, was time he truly cherished. He would light up as soon as the grandchildren and great-grandchildren entered the room. They were all his little “sweeties.”

Wilbert entered his eternal rest on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at The Harbor at Peace Village in Norwood Young America, Minnesota, at the age of 91 years, 2 months, and 2 days. Blessed be his memory.

Wilbert is survived by
Daughter, Charlotte Maye, and her husband, Ken, of Chaska, MN;
Son, Corey Renken, and his wife, Cari, of Victoria, MN;
Grandchildren, Carissa Clancy, Samantha Schmidt, and her husband, Aaron, Matthew Grunst, Jadyn Renken, Giana Renken;
Great-Grandchildren, Ruby Clancy, Rose Clancy, and Hadley Schmidt;
Sisters, Evelyn Panning, Helen Proehl;
Sister-in-law, Dorothy Griesmann, and her husband, Gordy;
Daughter-in-law, Jacquelyn Renken;
Nieces, Nephews, Other Relatives, and Many Friends.

Wilbert was preceded in death by his Wife, Darlene; Sons, Curtis Renken and Craig Renken; Father and Mother, Charles and Malinda Renken; Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, John and Frieda Dietel; Brother, Eldrin and his wife, Marvel; Brothers-in-law, Wayne Proehl, Werner Panning, and Gerald Dietel and his wife, Darlene Dietel-Wolfe.