Leo T. Renze, age 100, lifelong resident of Carroll County, died Friday, May 13, 2016 at Regency Park Nursing Home in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 16, 2016 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Johnson. Mass Servers will be Cole and Jack Grossman. Music will be by Barb McDermott and the Holy Spirit Choir with Dawn Wood as soloist. Lectors will be Tim Grossman, and Matt Tigges. Gift Bearers will be Linda Renze, Ashley Owen, Gerald Renze, and Vernon Renze. Eucharistic Minister will be Joyce Masching. Casket Bearers will be Jon Renze, Joe Renze, Brian Renze, Brad Renze, Tyler Renze, and Brian Stoufer. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll, with military honors conducted by the Carroll American Legion.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 2 p.m. on Sunday, where there will be a rosary prayed at 3 p.m., and a Christian Wake Service will be held at 5 p.m.
The casket will be moved to Holy Spirit Church, Monday morning where visitation will resume at 9:30 a.m., and continue until the time of the mass.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Leo’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on January 2, 1916 on the family farm near Roselle, Iowa, Leo was the son of Fred and Mary (Tunning) Renze. He attended Holy Angels School in Roselle. After his formal education Leo began to farm with his father. On August 11, 1942 Leo was inducted into the United States Army. He proudly, and courageously served for 39 months on the European front seeing combat in the Battle of the Bulge, and the Battle of the Rhine. Upon his honorable discharge on November 20, 1945 Leo returned to the Carroll area.
On January 23, 1946 Leo was united in marriage to Zita Schultes at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dedham with Fr. Pick officiating. The couple made their home southeast of Carroll where Leo was active his entire life in his grain and livestock farming operation. In 1982 Leo and Zita retired to the Carroll community. Leo enjoyed grain and livestock farming, and horses. He also enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs, and storytelling with his grandchildren. Leo was a member of the Carroll American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War, Holy Spirit Church, and Men’s Group.
Left to celebrate Leo’s life are his children: Gerald and his wife Sheryl Renze of Carroll, Vernon and his wife Linda Renze of Carroll, and Linda Renze and Scott Andersen of Council Bluffs; grandchildren: Kelly (Tim) Grossman of Clive, Jennifer (Matt) Tigges of Waukee, Jon (Amy) Renze of Carroll, Lisa (Jason) Peppel of Chicago, IL, Joe (Jessica) Renze of Cedar Falls, Dawn (Charles) Wood of Hiawatha, Brian (Lisa) Renze of Ames, Brad (Keri) Renze of Waukee, Angela (Brian) Stoufer of Council Bluffs, Tyler (Joy) Renze of Conroe, TX, and Ashley (Matt) Owen of Carroll; great-grandchildren: Cole, Kara, and Jack Grossman of Clive, Garrett, Avrie, and Grant Tigges of Waukee, Teagen, Greyson, and Bryn Renze of Carroll, Micah Renze of Cedar Falls, Emmaline, Charles, and Leo Wood of Hiawatha, Adam, and Isaac Renze of Ames, Brandt, and Evan Renze of Waukee, Nathan, and Drew Stoufer of Council Bluffs, and Hayley, and Hannah Owen of Carroll; sisters: Regina Schultes of Carroll, and Lucille (Fred) Wittrock of Audubon; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.
Leo was preceded in death by: his wife, Zita in 1998; a son Michael Renze in 1995; his siblings: Henry (Emily) Renze, Frank (Mildred) Renze, Norbert (Gertrude) Renze, Margaret Renze, Philomina (Walter) Bauer, and Loretta (John) Schultes; his brothers-in-law, and sister-in-law: William (Rosie) Schultes, and Carl Schultes. Also preceded Leo in death were his parents, Fred and Mary Renze, and mother and father-in-law: John and Katherine (Weitl) Schultes.
