Eddie Renken, 80, of Minonk, died Thursday (Sept. 13, 2018) at his home.

Cremation rites were accorded. A celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Minonk, with the Rev. Joy Miller officiating. Private family inurnment will be in Minonk Township Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Calvert - Johnson & Froelich Memorial Home, Minonk. All memorials will be kept locally and donated to organizations that Eddie was passionate about.

Eddie was born Aug. 3, 1938, in Dana, a son of Walter M. and Eva L. McKinney Renken. He married Shelia K. Stewart on Nov. 29, 1980. She preceded him in death on Dec. 11, 2014.

Surviving are five children, Carrie (Dave) Harper, Hudson; Jim (Terezinha) Renken, Hollywood, Fla.; Robert Renken, Bloomington; Tracy (Jennifer) Stout, Florence, N.C.; and Shawn Stout, Peoria; five grandchildren, Brandi (Alex) Woodke-Fiorentino, Mark (Melissa) Woodke, Cassie Stout, Jeffery Gates and Nolan Harper; and seven great-grandchildren, Thaya, Bria, Latham, Brennen, Izzabell, Eli and Holly. Also surviving are a brother, Walter "Butch" (Margaret) Renken, Whittier, Calif.; many nieces and nephews; and his pet cat, Pita.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Lowell and Louis; and two sisters, Shirley Renken and Jessica Postulka.

Eddie was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Minonk. He worked for Kent Lumber Co. for 20 years, SMF for 24 years and later for Fieldcrest School, all in Minonk. He was an EMT for the Minonk Ambulance service for 25 years and a member of the Minonk ESDA for 46 years.

He served in the Air Force during the Korean conflict, stationed at Otis Air Force Base in Massachusetts.

Being the sports fan he was and a Fieldcrest sports booster, he loved going to all the games, along with being a part of the Boy Scout organization for over 30 years. He was a craftsman and loved doing his woodworking and craft projects and spending time with family and friends.

Eddie touched many people's lives over his 80 years and will be greatly missed by all.