Patricia A. Renkema, age 80, of Fennville, MI went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, surrounded by her family members and friends with outpouring love and prayers.

Patti was born on July 1, 1944, to Donald and Dorothy Koehler of Oak Park, IL. She was a graduate of Oak Park River Forest High School and completed one year at the University of Wisconsin. She went on to work in various careers, including in dental and insurance offices, Fennville Public Schools, and an assisted living center. Patti loved serving others in Christ and did so as a Bible study leader, Sunday school teacher, women’s jail ministry, and through countless other ways that impacted each person she met. Patti truly “held out her candle,” shining her light for the Lord and guiding others to the feet of Jesus.

Patti married the love of her life, William (Bill) when she was 19 years old. Their marriage was filled with abounding joy, faithfulness, devotion, and compassion. Their love was strong, unwavering, and true, striving always to put the Lord in the center of their relationship to love passionately and abide by. The afterglow of their love for one another will forever be heartwarming, inspirational, and treasured.

Patti was a passionate, cheerful, and godly woman whose primary mission in life was to lead others to the foot of the cross to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. A Bible verse that so eloquently paints her daily focus is 3 John 1:4, which reads, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” Her sweet, humble and affable spirit radiated God’s love and her firm devotion to His Word. She loved spending her free time studying the Bible and developing her knowledge of God’s promises, which could happily occupy her for hours on end.

She also loved the sport of tennis, playing games, documenting memories with photographs, and most of all, being surrounded by family, who she faithfully discipled to. Her tender, gracious, and gentle nature exuded through her love for the birds, cats and dogs, cloudy skies, the smell of rain, and the smallest intricacies of God’s design. Nothing was too small or insignificant to her, including each person or creature she met. Her ability to listen, trust, and rely on prayer was matchless, and she carried it with her to the day the Lord welcomed her home. With humbleness and gratitude, we take heart and smile knowing our radiant Patti has been made new in Heaven, with Jesus forever.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Dorothy Koehler; sister, Carol Koehler, mother-in-law, Alice VanPlew; and daughter, Sheri Davis.

Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband of 61 years, William Renkema; siblings, Judy (Bruce) Grams, Denny (Kristie) VanPlew, Nancy (Bob) Bigelow, and Donna (John) Leonard; children, Scott (Melissa) Renkema, Mark (Julie) Renkema, Lori-Ann Paarlberg, Cindy Haadsma and Jennifer (Scott) Folkert; seventeen grandchildren, Ryan (Rachelle), Alek (Amanda), Katelyn (Joey), Heidi, Spencer (Sophie), John (Caroline), Justin, Abigail, Taylor, Nicholas, Benjamin, Madeline (Rohmell), Jarrett, Danielle (Bennett), Cole, Andrew, and Aubree; and six great-grandchildren, Olivia, Amelia, Gabriel, Corduroy, Mila, and Harvest.

Our family would like to extend our gratitude to Patti’s doctors, nurses and pharmacists for their excellent and compassionate care.

 A Celebration of Life service is planned for 11:00 am on Saturday, April 19th at Corner Bible Church, 4001 124th Ave., Allegan, MI 49010.

 

Memorial contributions may be made in Patti’s honor to:

Word of Life Fellowship, PO Box 600, Schroon Lake, NY 12870.

Camp Beechpoint, 3212 125th Ave., Allegan, MI 49010.

Wishbone Pet Rescue, 165 Blue Star Hwy, Douglas, MI 49406.