Dennis Renander, 79, of Clarinda, Iowa, died Monday, October 30, 2023, at Bryan Medical Center East Campus in Lincoln, Nebraska, with family members at his side. Dennis passed away peacefully after suffering a severe heart attack.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 4, 2023, at Nodaway Valley Funeral Home in Clarinda. Pastor Mitch Schuessler will officiate the service.
Visitation with the family receiving friends will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. service time Saturday at Nodaway Valley Funeral Home, Clarinda, Iowa.
Burial will be in the Essex Cemetery, Essex, Iowa. Military honors provided by American Legion Post 98 of Clarinda.
Memorials may be directed to the Galesburg Rotary Club Foundation, P.O. Box 68, Galesburg, IL 61402-0068 for Rotary Park, or donors choice. Memories can be shared with the family at www.nodawayvalleyfuneralhome.com. Arrangements were entrusted to the Nodaway Valley Funeral Home of Clarinda.
Dennis John Renander was born on March 15, 1944, in Clarinda, Iowa, the son of Warren and Delores (Goecker) Renander, both of whom preceded him in death. He married Nora Rozanne Almquist on March 22, 1969, in Essex, Iowa. Following 35 years of beloved marriage, she succumbed to cancer in 2004.
He is survived by his two daughters, Deana J. Renander of Jacksonville, Florida and Jennifer L. Leiras (Marat) of Deland, Florida; and two grandchildren; Audrey and Max Leiras of Deland. He is survived by a brother and sister; Warren Jr. Renander of Webster, Texas and Jeanette (Bill) Rhyan of Fort Worth, Texas. Dennis is also survived by his former wife Carol Hill of Fishers, Indiana, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and friends throughout Iowa, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana.
He graduated from Essex Public High School, Essex, Iowa in 1962. He graduated from the College of Medical Technology Minneapolis, Minnesota and was the Director of the Laboratory and Radiology Departments at Murphy Memorial Hospital in Red Oak, Iowa. He was called into military service and served in the United States Navy, domestically in San Diego, California and Bethesda Naval Hospital, Washington D.C. Dennis served in the Vietnam conflict as a member of the United States Agency for International Development team in 1967 and 1968. He was stationed at the hospital in Rach Gia, Vietnam. While there he discovered a pneumonic plague outbreak which caused many infant deaths and subsequently received special recognition from the United States Navy and the World Health Organization. Upon discharge from the Navy, Dennis graduated from the University of Nebraska. He and his family moved to Atlantic, Iowa where he served as Medical Laboratory Director and later as President and CEO of Cass County Memorial Hospital. In 1988, he accepted a position as President and CEO for Mercy Health Services North that governed Mercy Hospital Cadillac and Mercy Hospital Grayling. He and his family resided in Cadillac, Michigan. In 1998, he moved to Galesburg, Illinois where he served as President and CEO of Galesburg Cottage Hospital until 2004. In 2004, he served as the first President of the Galesburg Community Foundation and guided its development until 2007 when he retired. During his healthcare career he was most proud of ‘coaching’ and ‘mentoring’ members of his management teams; many of which went on and became CEO’s and senior managers in other organizations.
Dennis was a diplomat in the American College of Heath Care Executives and was registered by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. In addition to his professional activities, Dennis served in various capacities on boards of numerous community organizations including: Chamber of Commerce in Atlantic, Iowa; Baker College, Old Kent Bank, Junior Achievement, Cadillac Area Community Foundation, all in Cadillac, Michigan. In addition, he served on the following: Galesburg Community Foundation, YMCA and the YMCA Endowment Galesburg, Soangetaha Country Club, Trustee for the Village of East Galesburg, and then served as a board member and treasurer for Lutheran Churches in Atlantic, Cadillac and Galesburg.
He has been an active member of Rotary for over 35 years serving in many capacities and served as a charter member and President of the Galesburg Rotary Club Foundation.
In recent years, Dennis moved to the Eiler House, in Clarinda, Iowa, as the Resident Ambassador. He enjoyed interacting with all of the residents there; leading book studies, playing games and researching local facts and history for the community. He mostly cherished returning home where he was close to family and friends.
