Wendell Rensink, Sr.

Wendell Rensink, 84, of Boyden, IA died Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the Orange City Health System. A visitation will be held Friday from 4-8PM, with the family present from 6-8PM at the First Reformed Church of Boyden. A funeral service will be held Saturday at 10:30AM at First Reformed Church of Boyden with Rev. Matthew Draffen officiating. Interment will follow the funeral service in Sheridan Township Cemetery of Boyden. Wendell Harvey Rensink, Sr., son of Iva (Stoehr) and Leonard Rensink, Sr. of Boyden, Iowa was born at home on November 23, 1927. He grew up on the Ash Shade Dairy Farm north of Boyden, Iowa and graduated from Boyden High School. He worked as a dairy farmer and later as a banker. Wendell met his future wife Caroline Beermann at the Sheldon roller skating rink. They married at the Calumet Lutheran Church on June 18, 1950. Following marriage they farmed on the Rensink family farm north of Boyden. Later, Wendell went into banking. He worked at Farmer's Savings Bank in Boyden, then in 1964, he moved to the Dixon office of the First Trust and Savings Bank and later was promoted to the main office in Wheatland, Iowa. In 1975, they moved back to Boyden where the couple acquired ownership of the Farmer's Savings Bank. Wendell and Caroline established many close friends in each town they lived in. Wendell was the Chief Executive Officer in the bank and was active in the Boyden Foundation, his church and many civic activities. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, boating on the river and spending time with family. His greatest legacy and joy was his family and he handcrafted many beautiful pieces of furniture and other wooden items for his children and grandchildren. He and Caroline loved to take people out on their boat, the Caroliner, and enjoyed the beauty of the river. He is survived by his children: Cynthia and Douglas Webb of Las Vegas, NV, Anita and Garth DeWulf of Wheatland, IA, Melanie and Tom Huibregtse of Fort Collins, CO, Wendell and Donna Rensink of Elbow Lake, MN and Grace Liu of Boyden, IA; 15 grandchildren: Douglas Webb Jr., Matthew and Tania Webb, Betheny and Joe Perez of Las Vegas, Megan and Dan Ross of Boyden, IA, Aaron and Candice DeWulf, Rachael and John Looney, Ariell and Matt Connelly of Wheatland, IA, Rebecca and Adam Wilhelm of Calamus, IA, Heath Rensink of Fargo, ND, Brent and Sarah Rensink of Grand Forks, ND, Lauren and Marie Huibregtse of Fort Collins, CO, Gini, Tina, and Peter Liu of Boyden, IA; 20 great-grandchildren; one brother, Leland Rensink of Brandon SD and one sister, Anona Boone of Claremore, OK. He was preceded in death by his wife, Caroline; infant son, Eber Brent Rensink; brother, Leonard (Bud) Rensink, Jr. and his parents: Iva and Leonard Rensink, Sr.