Jack Renner

September 24, 1926 - December 23, 2016

Jack E. Renner, of New Castle, passed away on December 23, 2016 at home. He was born in Elwood, Indiana on September 24, 1926 to Carl and Dorothy Renner. Jack recently celebrated his 90th birthday. He graduated from Elwood High School and received his bachelor and master’s degrees at Ball State Teachers College. Jack met Nancy Merz at college and they were married in August, 1948 and recently celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary. While at Ball State, he was a member of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity and the Mathematics and Industrial Arts Clubs. He is a life member of ISTA and NEA. He began his teaching career in La Paz, Indiana and then taught for 41 years at the junior high and high school levels in New Castle. He taught vocational classes for many years and always encouraged students to further their training in the fields they chose. For that reason the family has established a Jack Renner Vocational Scholarship to be awarded each year to a graduating vocational student. He is well remembered for his teaching of drafting and many former students still say he was my favorite teacher. He began helping with sporting events in 1953. He first sold tickets at the S. 22nd St field. His next job was in charge of concessions at the Church Street Gym and he continued that at the new fieldhouse. He was then in charge of the fieldhouse for several years before he began helping with individual sports. He ran the clock, kept score and was a timer for football, swimming, track, cross country and gymnastics. He spent the next few years selling tickets for the basketball games. Jack was an active member of the First United Methodist church for 63 years and served as an usher, on the Administrative Board and delivered food to organizations which were donated the 1st Sunday of the month. He served on the Habitat for Humanity Board and helped build and renovate homes, served on the Meals on Wheels Board as treasurer and delivered meals for many years and served on the Westminster Community Center Board. He was a past treasurer of Rotary Club. Jack had been an assistant scout leader and chaperoned many summer camping trips with scouts and other students. He and Nancy chaperoned 32 students on a three week trip to Europe in 1969. He and his family loved camping and especially the two six-week trips, one to the east coast and one to the west coast. But his favorites were probably the two white water rafting trips on the Colorado River. He attended any school or sports activities that his grandchildren were involved in. When Jack retired he took up crocheting which his Grandmother had taught him as a young boy. He has made a number of lap robes which he donated to nursing homes and besides baby afghans and scarves he made full size afghans for high school graduates in the colors of the college they were going to attend. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; two sons, Jeffrey of Cleveland, Ohio and Chris (wife Melanie) of New Castle; daughter, Julie of New Castle and his grandchildren, Allison, Abbey, and Brady Renner. He has many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents, his daughter, Cathie of Arizona, a sister Margaret Jean of Elwood and his grandparents. The family will receive friends from 4 - 8 pm Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at Sproles Family Funeral Home. The funeral service will held at 11: 00 am, Wednesday, December 28, 2016 First United Methodist Church with Pastor Tom McGilliard officiating. Burial will follow at South Mound Cemetery West Lawn Addition. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jack Renner Vocational Scholarship or Habitat for Humanity, both held at the Henry County Community Foundation. You may send the family a personal condolence at www.sprolesfamilycares.com. The Sproles family and staff are honored to serve the family of Jack Renner.