Albert John Rens

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  Albert John Rens, age 92 of Hull, IA died Saturday, January 23, 2021 at Sioux Center Health Hospital in Sioux Center, IA.

     A private family funeral will take place at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at Memorial Funeral Home in Sioux Center with Rev. Loren Kotman officiating. Burial will follow at Hope Cemetery in Hull, IA.

     In lieu of flowers family wish memorials which will be directed to the Mission Fund at First Christian Reformed Church of Hull.

     Albertus “Albert” John Rens, son of John R and Mina (Van Maanen) Rens was born August 25, 1928 near Perkins Corner.  He was raised on the family farm and graduated from the Hull Christian Grade School.  He made confession of faith and was a lifelong member at the First Christian Reformed Church of Hull, IA. 

     He began working on the farm at age 14.  He was the only 15 year old that worked on the Threshing Ring pitching bundles.  The older men complained about not being able to keep up with him.  He worked for other farmers, drove gravel truck, and worked for a house moving company.  He was known for the beautiful threshing straw stacks on the Rens farm.

     On April 1, 1949 he married Jacoba Koel of Sioux Center.  To this union seven children were born: LaVonne, Gwendolyn, Harlan, Gerald, Leon, Eleanor and Greg.  They continued to farm and raise cattle until 2017.

     Al attended many farm shows and anything else that included agriculture.  The couple was part of a 15-member group from the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation that toured farms and livestock facilities in Brazil.  The couple moved in May of 2020 to Aspen Heights Assisted Living in Hull.

     He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Jacoba Rens;  and her children:

     LaVonne (Larry) Sietstra of Boyden, IA and their children,

           Lorayne and Matt Middendorp of Clinton, IA and their children,

                 Ethan       Isaac        Ashton        Amelia

          Luke and Amy Sietstra of Sheldon, IA and their children,

                Landon         Levi       

          Link Sietstra of Boyden, IA 

    Gwen (Hal) Congdon of Littleton, CO and their children:

           Ben Congdon of Maricopa, AZ

           Jennifer Congdon of Dallas, TX

    Harlan (Sandy) Rens of Sioux Falls, SD and their children:

          Tricia and Chad Mandery of Brandon, SD and their children:

                 Zoey          Gage

          Dana Schmidt of Sioux Falls, SD and her children:

               Andrew          Alexander

    Gerald (Kate) Rens of Rock Valley, IA and their children:

           Andrew and Shelli Rens of Rock Valley, and their children:

                   Lydia         Garrett         Collin          Cora

     Leon (Charlotte) Rens of Hull, IA and their children:

         Nick and Bethany Rens of Hull, IA and their son:

                Dexter

         Jeffery and Courtney Rens  of Hull, IA and their children:

               Peyton         Camden        

        Marcus Rens of Hull, IA

    Eleanor (Rick) Kiers of Hull, IA and their children:

        Cody and Shelby Kiers of Hull, IA and their children:

             Isabelle        Abigail        Carlie        

        Kelly  and  Brian Sipma  of Hull, IA and their children:

            Teagan          Easton          Emerson       Atlee

    Greg (Jessica) Rens of Hull, IA and their children:

       Brittany and Jordon Holtrop of Sheldon, IA and their son:

          Brooks

      Heather and Thomas Hofmeyer of Hull, IA

      Emalee Rens of Hull, IA

      Baily Kramer of Sioux Falls, SD

      Lucas Kramer, of Hull, IA

      Logan Kramer of Hull, IA

    Also left to cherish his memory are sister-in-law, Evelyn “Evie” Rens of Hills, MN; brother, Delmar (Mae) Rens of Sun Valley, CA; sister-in-law, Lorna Koel of Madison, SD; brothers-in-law, Cornie and Anne Jansen of Hull, IA and Derrick and Sally Koel of Sioux Center; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family members.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mina Rens; four sisters, Angeline Sybesma Bekuis, Mina Burggraaf, Albertha “Berdie” De Groot Bolks, and Janet Kroese; two brothers, Robert Rens and Marvin Rens, brothers-in-law, Delphus Koel, Donald and Majorie Koel.